The Call of Wisdom

²⁰Wisdom cries aloud in the street,

in the markets she raises her voice;

²¹at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;

at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:

²²“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?

How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing

and fools hate knowledge?

²³If you turn at my reproof,1

behold, I will pour out my spirit to you;

I will make my words known to you.

²⁴Because I have called and you refused to listen,

have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,

²⁵because you have ignored all my counsel

and would have none of my reproof,

²⁶I also will laugh at your calamity;

I will mock when terror strikes you,

²⁷when terror strikes you like a storm

and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,

when distress and anguish come upon you.

²⁸Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;

they will seek me diligently but will not find me.

²⁹Because they hated knowledge

and did not choose the fear of the Lord,

³⁰would have none of my counsel

and despised all my reproof,

³¹therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way,

and have their fill of their own devices.

³²For the simple are killed by their turning away,

and the complacency of fools destroys them;

³³but whoever listens to me will dwell secure

and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”

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