Proverbs 9

¹Wisdom has built her house; she has carved out her seven pillars.

²She has prepared her meat [and] mixed her wine; she has also set her table.

³She has sent out her maidservants; she calls out from the heights of the city.

⁴“Whoever [is] simple, let him turn in here!” she says to him who lacks judgment.

⁵“Come, eat my bread and drink the wine I have mixed.

⁶Leave your folly behind, and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.”

⁷He who corrects a mocker brings shame on himself; he who rebukes a wicked [man] taints himself.

⁸Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise [man], and he will love you.

⁹Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will increase [his] learning.

¹⁰The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

¹¹For through [wisdom] your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.

¹²If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage; but if you scoff, you alone will bear [the consequences].

¹³The woman [named] Folly is loud; [she is] naive and knows nothing.

¹⁴She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the heights of the city,

¹⁵calling out to those who pass by, who make their paths {straight}.

¹⁶“Whoever [is] simple, let him turn in here!” she says to him who lacks judgment.

¹⁷“Stolen water is sweet, and bread [eaten] in secret is tasty!”

¹⁸But they do not know that the dead are there, that her guests [are] in the depths of Sheol.