Proverbs 1:20-22 Wisdom cried without; she uttered her voice in the streets: She cried in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttered her words, saying, How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? 

‘Wisdom’ [Hebrew: chokmowth] (the plural of Chokmah) is wisdom, prudence, shrewdness, skill. Translated as “wisdom” 145 times (1:2, 7; 2:2, 6, 10; 3:13, 19; 4:5, 7, 11; 5:1; 7:4; 8:1, 11-12; 9:10; 10:13, 23, 31; 11:2; 13:10; 14:6, 8, 33; 15:33; 16:16; 17:16; 24; 18:4; 21:30; 23:23; 24:3, 24:14; 28:26; 29:3, 15; 30:3; 31:26; Ex. 28:3; 31:3, 6; 35:26; 31, 35; 36:1-2; Ps. 37:30; 51:6; 90:12; 104:24; 111:10; Eccl. 1:13-18; 2:3-26; 7:11-25; 8:1, 16;). It is the predominant word for wisdom in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes.

‘Cried without’ – Five places wisdom preaches: in open places, streets, mobs, gates, and cities (1:20-21).

‘Concourse’ [Hebrew: hamah] to be in great commotion or tumult; mob; uproar.

‘How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? …’ This is the 1st prophecy in Proverbs (1:22-33) unfulfilled except in part. Wisdom’s sixfold message: How long will you simple ones love deception and flattery? How long will you scorners continue to scorn wisdom? How long will you fools hate knowledge? Turn at my reproof [Hebrew: shuwb] be converted (Ps. 6:10; 19:7; 51:13; Isa. 1:27). I will pour out my spirit unto you (1:23). I will make known my words to you.

‘You simple ones’ – Three classes Wisdom preaches to the simple ones (1:4); scorners (Ps. 1:1); fools.

‘Simple ones’ – Simple ones love simplicity [Hebrew: pethiy] silly, deceptive, flattering, and enticing talk and conduct; scorners delight in scorning wisdom and fools despise knowledge (1:22; 9:7-9).