1 The proverbs of Solomon^(A) son of David, king of Israel:

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^(A) enjoy mocking
and you fools hate knowledge?^(B)
23 If you respond to my warning,^[b](C)
then I will pour out my spirit on you^(D)
and teach you my words.
²⁴ Since I called out and you refused,^(E)
extended my hand and no one paid attention,^(F)
25 since you neglected all my counsel^(G)
and did not accept my correction,
²⁶ I, in turn, will laugh at your calamity.^(H)
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.^(I)
29 Because they hated knowledge,
didn’t choose to fear the Lord,^(J)
30 were not interested in my counsel,
and rejected all my correction,^(K)
31 they will eat the fruit of their way^(L)
and be glutted with their own schemes.^(M)
32 For the apostasy of the inexperienced will kill them,^(N)
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.”^(O)