Proverbs 9

Invitations of Wisdom and Folly

¹Wisdom has built her house;

she has set up its seven pillars.

²She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;

she has also set her table.

³She has sent out her servants, and she calls

from the highest point of the city,

⁴“Let all who are simple come to my house!”

To those who have no sense she says,

⁵“Come, eat my food

and drink the wine I have mixed.

⁶Leave your simple ways and you will live;

walk in the way of insight.”

⁷Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults;

whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.

⁸Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you;

rebuke the wise and they will love you.

⁹Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;

teach the righteous and they will add to their 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 many,

and years will be added to your life.

¹²If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you;

if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.

¹³Folly is an unruly woman;

she is simple and knows nothing.

¹⁴She sits at the door of her house,

on a seat at the highest point of the city,

¹⁵calling out to those who pass by,

who go straight on their way,

¹⁶“Let all who are simple come to my house!”

To those who have no sense she says,

¹⁷“Stolen water is sweet;

food eaten in secret is delicious!”

¹⁸But little do they know that the dead are there,

that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.