Proverbs 9

¹Wisdom has built her house,

she has hewn her seven pillars.

²She has slaughtered her animals, she has mixed her wine,

she has also set her table.

³She has sent out her servant-girls, she calls

from the highest places in the town,

⁴“You that are simple, turn in here!”

To those without sense she says,

⁵“Come, eat of my bread

and drink of the wine I have mixed.

⁶Lay aside immaturity, and live,

and walk in the way of insight.”

⁷Whoever corrects a scoffer wins abuse;

whoever rebukes the wicked gets hurt.

⁸A scoffer who is rebuked will only hate you;

the wise, when rebuked, will love you.

⁹Give instruction to the wise, and they will become wiser still;

teach the righteous and they will gain 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 foolish woman is loud;

she is ignorant and knows nothing.

¹⁴She sits at the door of her house,

on a seat at the high places of the town,

¹⁵calling to those who pass by,

who are going straight on their way,

¹⁶“You who are simple, turn in here!”

And to those without sense she says,

¹⁷“Stolen water is sweet,

and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”

¹⁸But they do not know that the dead are there,

that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.