How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
How long will you naive people love being naive? How long will mockers enjoy their mocking, and fools hate learning?
The writer is asking how long people will choose to remain foolish, mock wisdom, and reject learning instead of seeking knowledge and understanding.
📚 Historical Context
This verse comes from the opening section of Proverbs where Wisdom is personified as calling out to people in the streets and public places. In ancient Israel, the city gates and marketplaces were where important announcements were made and where people gathered to conduct business and hear news. Solomon and other wisdom teachers used these familiar settings to emphasize that wisdom wasn't hidden away but was readily available to anyone willing to listen.
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