20Wisdom calls out in the street;
she makes her voice heard in the public squares.
21She cries out above 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 enjoy mocking
and you fools hate knowledge?
23If you respond to my warning,
then I will pour out my spirit on you
and teach you my words.
24Since I called out and you refused,
extended my hand and no one paid attention,
25since you neglected all my counsel
and did not accept my correction,
26I, in turn, will laugh at your calamity.
I will mock when terror strikes you,
27when terror strikes you like a storm
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when trouble and stress overcome you.
28Then they will call me, but I won’t answer;
they will search for me, but won’t find me.
29Because they hated knowledge,
didn’t choose to fear the Lord,
30were not interested in my counsel,
and rejected all my correction,
31they will eat the fruit of their way
and be glutted with their own schemes.
32For the apostasy of the inexperienced will kill them,
and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
33But whoever listens to me will live securely
and be undisturbed by the dread of danger.”