The Way of Wisdom

9 vWisdom has built her house;

she has hewn her wseven xpillars.

2  She has yslaughtered her beasts; she has zmixed her wine;

she has also aset her table.

3  She has bsent out her young women to ccall

from dthe highest places in the town,

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

fTo him who lacks sense she says,

5  “Come, geat of my bread

and hdrink of zthe wine I have mixed.

6  Leave iyour simple ways,1 and jlive,

kand walk in the way of insight.”

7  Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse,

and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.

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

mreprove a wise man, and he will love you.

9  Give instruction2 to a wise man, and he will be nstill wiser;

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

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

and qthe knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

11  For by me ryour days will be multiplied,

and years will be added to your life.

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

if you scoff, you alone will bear it.

The Way of Folly

13  tThe woman Folly is uloud;

she is seductive3 and vknows nothing.

14  She sits at the door of her house;

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

15  calling to those who pass by,

who are xgoing straight on their way,

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

And to him who lacks sense she says,

17  z“Stolen water is sweet,

and abread eaten in secret is pleasant.”

18  But he does not know bthat the dead4 are there,

that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.