The Call of Lady Wisdom

• 20 in the squares she raises her voice.
• 21 [fn] she cries out, at the entrances of the gates in the city, she speaks her sayings:
• 22 [fn] O simple ones, will you love simplicity? And how long will scoffers delight in their scoffing,
• and fools hate knowledge?
• 23 [fn] Behold, I shall pour out my spirit upon you;
• I will make my words known to you.
• 24  I stretched out my hand, yet there is none who heeds.
• 25  and my reproof you are not willing to accept.
• 26 [fn] I will mock when panic[fn] comes upon you.
• 27  and your calamity arrives like a whirlwind,
• when distress and anguish come upon you,
• 28 [fn] me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but not find me.
• 29  and did not choose the fear of Yahweh,
• 30 to accept my counsel, they despised all my reproof.
• 31  and they shall be sated from their own schemes,
• 32  and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
• 33  and rest securely[fn] from dread and disaster.”