²⁰ Wisdom calls out in the street;
she makes her voice heard in the public squares.^(A)
21 She cries out above^[a] the commotion;
she speaks at the entrance of the city gates:
²² “How long, inexperienced ones, will you love ignorance?
How long will you mockers^(B) enjoy mocking
and you fools hate knowledge?^(C)
23 If you respond to my warning,^[b](D)
then I will pour out my spirit on you^(E)
and teach you my words.
²⁴ Since I called out and you refused,^(F)
extended my hand and no one paid attention,^(G)
25 since you neglected all my counsel^(H)
and did not accept my correction,
²⁶ I, in turn, will laugh at your calamity.^(I)
I will mock when terror strikes you,
²⁷ when terror strikes you like a storm
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when trouble and stress overcome you.
²⁸ Then they will call me, but I won’t answer;
they will search for me, but won’t find me.^(J)
29 Because they hated knowledge,
didn’t choose to fear the Lord,^(K)
30 were not interested in my counsel,
and rejected all my correction,^(L)
31 they will eat the fruit of their way^(M)
and be glutted with their own schemes.^(N)
32 For the apostasy of the inexperienced will kill them,^(O)
and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
³³ But whoever listens to me will live securely
and be undisturbed by the dread of danger.”^(P)

5 My son, pay attention to my wisdom;
listen closely^[a] to my understanding^(A)
2 so that you may maintain discretion
and your lips safeguard knowledge.^(B)

²⁰ My son, keep your father’s command,
and don’t reject your mother’s teaching.^(A)
21 Always bind them to your heart;
tie them around your neck.^(B)
22 When you walk here and there, they will guide you;
when you lie down, they will watch over you;
when you wake up, they will talk to you.
²³ For a command is a lamp, teaching is a light,^(C)
and corrective discipline is the way to life.^(D)