Wisdom shouts in the streets

20 Wisdom [PRS] shouts to people in the streets,

and calls out to people in the ◄plazas/town squares►.

21 Wisdom calls out in noisy places,

and at the entrances to cities.

22 Wisdom says, “How long will you stupid people continue to enjoy doing foolish things [RHQ]?

How long will you people who ridicule God enjoy doing that [RHQ]?

How long will you foolish people refuse to know what things are right [RHQ]?

23 If you pay attention to me when I rebuke you,

I will tell you what I am thinking in my inner being;

I will give you some good advice.

24 But when I called to you, you refused to listen.

I beckoned to you to come to me,

but you ignored me.

25 I tried to advise you,

but you refused to listen to me.

I tried to correct you,

but you rejected what I told you.

26 So now, when you are experiencing troubles/disasters,

I will laugh at you.

When things happen that cause you to be afraid,

I will make fun of you.

27 When calamities strike you like a big storm,

when disasters hit you like a violent wind,

when all kinds of things distress you and give you trouble,

I will ridicule you!

28 Wisdom also says, “When foolish people call to me to help them,

I will not answer them.

They will search for me diligently/everywhere,

but they will not find me.

29 They refused to know what things are right,

and they decided not to revere Yahweh.

30 They would not accept my advice,

and they did not pay attention when I tried to correct them.

31 So they will endure what will result [MET, DOU] from the evil way they have lived/behaved

and the evil things they have planned to do.

32 Those who turn away from me are stupid/foolish;

they will die because of doing that.

33 But those who pay attention to me will live peacefully and safely,

and they will not be afraid that something will harm them.”