⁶ A mocker seeks wisdom and never finds it,
    but knowledge comes easily to those with understanding.

⁷ Should you talk that way, O family of Israel?^[a]
    Will the Lord’s Spirit have patience with such behavior?
If you would do what is right,
    you would find my words comforting.

⁸ And a great road will go through that once deserted land.
    It will be named the Highway of Holiness.
Evil-minded people will never travel on it.
    It will be only for those who walk in God’s ways;
    fools will never walk there.

¹⁵ Intelligent people are always ready to learn.
    Their ears are open for knowledge.

18 Unfriendly people care only about themselves;
    they lash out at common sense.

² Fools have no interest in understanding;
    they only want to air their own opinions.

²⁴ Sensible people keep their eyes glued on wisdom,
    but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.