Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice;
at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?
If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.
Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof,
I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.
Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices.
For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them;
but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”
Comment: There are plenty of very knowledgable people, some of whom are wise or wise in a limited sector of life. Above all I chose to side with Paul who under the control of the Spirit of God writes in Colossians 2 v 2&3 ‘…the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.‘ And thus I think Proverbs here and throughout uses ‘wisdom’ as a synonym for ‘Jesus’. In Hebrew, words have a sex attached to them (as does, for instance, French) so the ‘she’ attached to wisdom doesn’t mean that it may not refer to the ‘he’, Jesus. There is wisdom shed abroad and seen in many others, but Wisdom is personified in Jesus,
Thus we find 1. Jesus calls out wherever people are found. 2. To ignore His call earns the the titles ‘simple’, ‘scoffer’ and ‘fool’. 3. Listening results in the Spirit of Christ’s Wisdom being poured upon the listener. 4. Ignoring Wisdom’s call and refusal to listen precipitates the scornful laugh of God when their choices bring the scoffers into calamity! 5. Bad choices bring appropriate ‘fruits’. 6. “but whoever listens to me (Wisdom) will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”
Prayer: Please help me to listen well and choose wisely, Messiah Jesus!
As I read it! 