Proverbs 9

₁Wisdom has built her house;

she has hewn her seven pillars.

₂She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine;

she has also set her table.

₃She has sent out her young women to call

from the highest places in the town,

₄“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”

To him who lacks sense she says,

₅“Come, eat of my bread

and drink of the wine I have mixed.

₆Leave your simple ways, and live,

and walk in the way of insight.”

₇Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse,

and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.

₈Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;

reprove a wise man, and he will love you.

₉Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;

teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

₁₀The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

₁₁For by me your days will be multiplied,

and years will be added to your life.

₁₂If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;

if you scoff, you alone will bear it.

₁₃The woman Folly is loud;

she is seductive and knows nothing.

₁₄She sits at the door of her house;

she takes a seat on the highest places of the town,

₁₅calling to those who pass by,

who are going straight on their way,

₁₆“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”

And to him who lacks sense she says,

₁₇“Stolen water is sweet,

and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”

₁₈But he does not know that the dead are there,

that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.