“To what then will I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like?  They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not weep.’  For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon’; the Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’  Nevertheless, wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”—Luke 7:31-35

 

 

Wisdom is vindicated by all her children.

 

Wisdom, who cries out in the street;

In the squares she raises her voice.

At the busiest corner she cries out;

At the entrance of the city gates she speaks.

 

The LORD by Wisdom founded the earth

 

Does not Wisdom call, and does not understanding raise her voice?

On the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand;

Beside the gates in front of the town,

At the entrance of the portals she cries out

 

“The LORD created me at the beginning!

 

When there were no depths I was brought forth,

When there were no springs abounding with water.

Before the mountains had been shaped, 

Before the hills, I was brought forth

 

When the LORD 

 

Established the heavens

Drew a circle on the face of the deep

Made firm the skies above

Established the fountains of the deep

Assigned to the sea its limit

Marked out the foundations of the earth

 

I was there, like a master worker.”

 

In the beginning was Wisdom

Wisdom was with God

Wisdom was God.

Wisdom became flesh and dwelt among us.

 

She has built her house, she has hewn her seven pillars.

She has slaughtered her animals, she has mixed her wine.

She has set her table.

She has sent out her servant girls.

 

She calls from the highest places in the town

 

“You that are simple, turn in here!

Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed.

Lay aside immaturity, and live!

And walk in the way of insight.”

 

Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks,

He broke it and gave it to them.

And he did the same with the cup after supper.

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life.”

 

Wisdom is vindicated by all her children.

 

They cry out in the marketplace

“We played the flute for you, and you did not dance.”

“We wailed, and you did not weep.”

 

Will this generation be ready?

Will this generation prepare the way?

 

Will we dance with her children,

Will we rejoice with her?

Will we weep with her children,

Will we grieve with her?