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.”

4 Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction.
    Pay attention and know understanding;

⁷ One who corrects a mocker invites insult.
    One who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.
⁸ Don’t reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you.
    Reprove a wise person, and he will love you.

12 Whoever loves correction loves knowledge,
    but he who hates reproof is stupid.

13 A wise son listens to his father’s instruction,
    but a scoffer doesn’t listen to rebuke.