²⁰ Wisdom calls aloud in the street.
    She utters her voice in the public squares.
²¹ She calls at the head of noisy places.
    At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:
²² “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?
    How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery,
    and fools hate knowledge?
²³ Turn at my reproof.
    Behold,^[a] I will pour out my spirit on you.
    I will make known my words to you.
²⁴ Because I have called, and you have refused;
    I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;
²⁵ but you have ignored all my counsel,
    and wanted none of my reproof;
²⁶ I also will laugh at your disaster.
    I will mock when calamity overtakes you,
²⁷ when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
    when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind,
    when distress and anguish come on you.
²⁸ Then they will call on me, but I will not answer.
    They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me,
²⁹ because they hated knowledge,
    and didn’t choose the fear of Yahweh.
³⁰ They wanted none of my counsel.
    They despised all my reproof.
³¹ Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way,
    and be filled with their own schemes.
³² For the backsliding of the simple will kill them.
    The careless ease of fools will destroy them.
³³ But whoever listens to me will dwell securely,
    and will be at ease, without fear of harm.”

5 My son, pay attention to my wisdom.
    Turn your ear to my understanding,
² that you may maintain discretion,
    that your lips may preserve knowledge.

²⁰ My son, keep your father’s commandment,
    and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching.
²¹ Bind them continually on your heart.
    Tie them around your neck.
²² When you walk, it will lead you.
    When you sleep, it will watch over you.
    When you awake, it will talk with you.
²³ For the commandment is a lamp,
    and the law is light.
    Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,