18. These men lie in wait for their own blood;they ambush only themselves!
19. Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain;it takes away the life of those who get it.
20. Out in the open wisdom calls aloud,she raises her voice in the public square;
21. on top of the wall she cries out,at the city gate she makes her speech:
22. ‘How long will you who are simple love your simple ways?How long will mockers delight in mockeryand fools hate knowledge?
23. Repent at my rebuke!Then I will pour out my thoughts to you,I will make known to you my teachings.
24. But since you refuse to listen when I calland no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand,
25. since you disregard all my adviceand do not accept my rebuke,
26. I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you;I will mock when calamity overtakes you –
27. when calamity overtakes you like a storm,when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind,when distress and trouble overwhelm you.
28. ‘Then they will call to me but I will not answer;they will look for me but will not find me,
29. since they hated knowledgeand did not choose to fear the Lord.
30. Since they would not accept my adviceand spurned my rebuke,
31. they will eat the fruit of their waysand be filled with the fruit of their schemes.
32. For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,and the complacency of fools will destroy them;
33. but whoever listens to me will live in safetyand be at ease, without fear of harm.’