“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?
and you say, “How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof!
Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord,
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.
knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.
For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.
saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise; when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.
Condemnation is ready for scoffers, and beating for the backs of fools.
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!
And Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me.”
A scoffer does not like to be reproved; he will not go to the wise.
A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” And to him who lacks sense she says, “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” To him who lacks sense she says, “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight.”
O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense.
and I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among the youths, a young man lacking sense,
How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep?
Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth—
Understand, O dullest of the people! Fools, when will you be wise?
What man is like Job, who drinks up scoffing like water,
“How long shall this wicked congregation grumble against me? I have heard the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against me.
And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws?
So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, that they may serve me.
Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com.