Proverbs 9

Invitations of Wisdom and Folly

9Wisdom has built^o her house;

she has set up^a its seven pillars.

²She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;^p

she has also set her table.^q

³She has sent out her servants, and she calls^r

from the highest point of the city,^s

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

To those who have no sense^u she says,

⁵“Come,^v eat my food

and drink the wine I have mixed.^w

⁶Leave your simple ways and you will live;^x

walk in the way of insight.”^y

⁷Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults;

whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.^z

⁸Do not rebuke mockers^a or they will hate you;

rebuke the wise and they will love you.^b

⁹Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;

teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.^c

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

and knowledge of the Holy One^e is understanding.^f

¹¹For through wisdom^b your days will be many,

and years will be added to your life.^g

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

if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.

¹³Folly is an unruly woman;^h

she is simple and knows nothing.ⁱ

¹⁴She sits at the door of her house,

on a seat at the highest point of the city,^j

¹⁵calling out^k 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^l she says,

¹⁷“Stolen water is sweet;

food eaten in secret is delicious!^m”

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

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