Wisdom calls aloud in the street
She raises her voice in the public squares
At the noisy streets she cries out
In the gateways of the city she makes her speech
How long will you simple ones
How long will mockers boast
and fools hate knowledge?
I would have poured out my heart to you
And made my thoughts known to you
Since you rejected me when I called
Since you ignored all my advice
And would not accept my rebuke
I in turn will laugh at your disaster
How long will you simple ones
How long will mockers boast
and fools hate knowledge?
I would have poured out my heart to you
And made my thoughts known to you
But they will not find me
Since they hated knowledge
And did not choose to fear the Lord
They will eat the fruit of their ways
And be filled with the fruit of their schemes
The waywardness of the simple will kill them
The complacency of fools will destroy them
Whoever listens to me will live in safety
And be at ease without fear of harm
How long will you simple ones
How long will mockers boast
and fools hate knowledge?