Warning Against Disregarding Wisdom

20  Wisdom calls out in the street,

she shouts loudly in the plazas;

21  at the head of the noisy streets she calls,

in the entrances of the gates in the city she utters her words:

22 “How long will you simpletons love naiveté?

How long will mockers delight in mockery

and fools hate knowledge?

23  If only you will respond to my rebuke,

then I will pour out my thoughts to you

and I will make my words known to you.

24  However, because I called but you refused to listen,

because I stretched out my hand but no one paid attention,

25  because you neglected all my advice,

and did not comply with my rebuke,

26  so I myself will laugh when disaster strikes you,

I will mock when what you dread comes,

27  when what you dread comes like a whirlwind,

and disaster strikes you like a devastating storm,

when distressing trouble comes on you.

28  Then they will call to me, but I will not answer;

they will diligently seek me, but they will not find me.

29  Because they hated moral knowledge,

and did not choose to fear the Lord,

30  they did not comply with my advice,

they spurned all my rebuke.

31  Therefore they will eat from the fruit of their way,

and they will be stuffed full of their own counsel.

32  For the waywardness of the

simpletons will kill them,

and the careless ease of fools will destroy them.

33  But the one who listens to me will live in security,

and will be at ease from the dread of harm.

2  My child, if you receive my words,

and store up my commands within you,

2  by making your ear attentive to wisdom,

and by turning your heart to understanding,

3  indeed, if you call out for discernment –

raise your voice for understanding –

4  if you seek it like silver,

and search for it like hidden treasure,

5  then you will understand how to fear the Lord,

and you will discover knowledge about God.

6  For the Lord gives wisdom,

and from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.

7  He stores up effective counsel for the upright,

and is like a shield for those who live with integrity,

8  to guard the paths of the righteous

and to protect the way of his pious ones.

9  Then you will understand righteousness and justice

and equity – every good way.

10  For wisdom will enter your heart,

and moral knowledge will be attractive to you.

11  Discretion will protect you,

understanding will guard you,

12  to deliver you from the way of the wicked,

from those speaking perversity,

13  who leave the upright paths

to walk on the dark ways,

14  who delight in doing evil,

they rejoice in perverse evil;

15  whose paths are morally crooked,

and who are devious in their ways;

16  to deliver you from the adulteress,

from the sexually loose woman who speaks flattering words;

17  who leaves the husband from her younger days,

and forgets her marriage covenant made before God.

18  For her house sinks down to death,

and her paths lead to the place of the departed spirits.

19  None who go in to her will return,

nor will they reach the paths of life.

20  So you will walk in the way of good people,

and will keep on the paths of the righteous.

21  For the upright will reside in the land,

and those with integrity will remain in it,

22  but the wicked will be removed from the land,

and the treacherous will be torn away from it.

3  My child, do not forget my teaching,

but let your heart keep my commandments,

2  for they will provide a long and full life,

and they will add well-being to you.

3  Do not let truth and mercy leave you;

bind them around your neck,

write them on the tablet of your heart.

4  Then you will find favor and good understanding,

in the sight of God and people.

5  Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not rely on your own understanding.

6  Acknowledge him in all your ways,

and he will make your paths straight.

7  Do not be wise in your own estimation;

fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

8  This will bring healing to your body,

and refreshment to your inner self.

9  Honor the Lord from your wealth

and from the first fruits of all your crops;

10  then your barns will be filled completely,

and your vats will overflow with new wine.

11  My child, do not despise discipline from the Lord,

and do not loathe his rebuke.

12  For the Lord disciplines those he loves,

just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.