Wisdom Cries Out in the Street: I Will Mock When Your Calamity Comes

Proverbs personifies Wisdom as a woman shouting in the public square: 'How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?' They ignored her when she called. So she makes a promise: 'I in turn will laugh when calamity overtakes you — when terror strikes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you. Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me.' Wisdom in Proverbs is not patient. She warns, waits, and then withdraws. The opportunity passes and does not return.