Paragraph 1:22–27

1:22

This verse contains three parallel lines. Wisdom rebukes three similar kinds of people for three similar kinds of unwise behavior.

22a
How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways ?

22b
How long will scoffers delight in their scorn

22c and fools hate knowledge ?

1:22a–c

How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in their scorn and fools hate knowledge?: These are rhetorical questions. Wisdom asks these questions to denounce or rebuke simple ones, scoffers, and fools. She urges them to stop their behavior. Some other ways to translate a rebuke of this nature are:

• Use a different question. For example:

Why do you simple ones continue to love your simple ways?

• Use a statement. For example:

You simple people must stop loving your simple ways.

In the Hebrew text, the first line uses the pronoun “you(plur).” The next two lines use “they” (they delight in, they hate). Because of this change of reference, there are different interpretations as to whom Wisdom is addressing:

(1) Wisdom is addressing “simple ones, scoffers, and fools.” For example:

How long will you gullible people love being so gullible? How long will you mockers find joy in your mocking? How long will you fools hate knowledge? (God’s Word)

(2) Wisdom is addressing only “simple ones” directly, though she comments about the other two classes of people. For example:

How long will you simpletons love naiveté? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? (NET Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with a majority of scholars. In 1:23 Wisdom again uses the pronoun “you” to refer to the ones she rebuked. It seems unlikely that Wisdom would appeal only to the simple, and not to scoffers and the fools.

All scholars agree that three classes of people are mentioned in this verse. However, these classes overlap. For example:

You fools, how long will you be foolish? How long will you make fun of wisdom and hate knowledge? (New Century Version)

1:22a

How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways?: For the meaning of simple ones, see the note on 1:4a. However, the context in 1:22 indicates that these inexperienced youths have already rejected the advice given to them and have become total fools. That is probably the reason that the Good News Translation translated this word as “inexperienced” in 1:4a, but as “foolish” in this verse. The New Century Version is similar with “fools.” One way to express both meanings in this question is:

You foolish people, why do you want to remain naive?

1:22b

scoffers: In Hebrew, this word refers to people who scoff at or make fun of someone or something. A “scoffer,” also called a “mocker,” is arrogant as well as scornful. But the focus of this word is on the disdainful way that a scoffer treats other people. It is not mainly on the scoffer’s feeling of pride.

The Hebrew text does not specify what these people scoff at or mock. If it is necessary to make explicit what they mock, some options are:

making fun of knowledge (Good News Translation)
-or-
make fun of wisdom (New Century Version)
-or-
mock ⌊good advice⌋
-or-
scoff at ⌊other people⌋

1:22c

fools: In Hebrew, this word for “fool” (kǝsil) refers to someone who is a moral fool, not someone who is uneducated or who lacks intelligence. He does what is stupid and wrong because he is mentally lazy and is satisfied with himself. He does not understand the need to change his own foolish behavior and does not want to think about the consequences. Other ways to translate this word are:

⌊complacent⌋ fool
-or-
⌊stupid⌋ fool

hate knowledge: The verb translated by the Berean Standard Bible as hate means to strongly dislike or loathe. It also includes the idea of rejecting the thing that is hated. Another way to translate the phrase hate knowledge is:

refuse to learn

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