Proverbs 1:16-33

¹⁶For their feet run to evil, And make haste to shed blood.

¹⁷For as the net is spread in vain Before the eyes of any bird,

¹⁸So they lie in wait for their own blood; They lurk secretly for their own lives.

¹⁹Such are the ways of every one greedy of unjust gain; It taketh away the life of the possessor thereof.

²⁰Wisdom crieth out in the highway; In the market-place she uttereth her voice;

²¹At the head of the noisy streets she crieth aloud; At the entrances of the gates, throughout the city, she proclaimeth her words saying:

²²How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? How long will scoffers delight themselves in scoffing, And fools hate knowledge?

²³Turn ye at my reproof! Behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make known my words to you!

²⁴“Because I have called, and ye have refused,—Because I have stretched out my hand, and no one hath regarded.

²⁵Because ye have rejected all my counsel, And have slighted my rebuke,—

²⁶I also will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh;

²⁷When your fear cometh upon you like a storm. And destruction overtaketh you like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you.

²⁸Then will they call upon me, but I will not answer! They will seek me early, But they shall not find me!

²⁹Because they have hated knowledge, And have not chosen the fear of the LORD,—

³⁰Because they would not attend to my counsel, And have despised all my reproof,—

³¹Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own devices;

³²Yea, the turning away of the simple shall slay them, And the carelessness of fools shall destroy them.

³³But whoso hearkeneth to me shall dwell securely, And shall not be disquieted with the fear of evil.”