Study Desk

The ^(C1)proverbs of Solomon ^(C2)the son of David, king of Israel:

At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city she declares her sayings:

"How long, you ^(C1)naive ones, will you love simplistic thinking? And how long will ^(C2)scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools ^(C3)hate knowledge?

-"Turn to my rebuke, Behold, I will ^(C1)pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.

-"Because ^(C1)I called and you ^(C2)refused, I ^(C3)stretched out my hand and no one paid attention;

And you ^(C1)neglected all my advice And did not ^(C2)want my rebuke;

I will also ^(C1)laugh at your ^(C2)disaster; I will mock when your ^(C3)dread comes,

When your dread comes like a storm And your disaster comes like a ^(C1)whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you.

-"Then they will ^(C1)call on me, but I will not answer; They will ^(C2)seek me diligently but will not find me,

Because they ^(C1)hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD.

-"They ^(C1)did not accept my advice, They disdainfully rejected every rebuke from me.

-"So they shall ^(C1)eat of the fruit of their own way, And be ^(C2)filled with their own schemes.

-"For the ^(C1)faithlessness of the naive will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them.

-"But ^(C1)whoever listens to me will live securely And will be at ease from the dread of evil."