The Consequences of Accepting Wisdom or Folly70

9:1 Wisdom has built her house;

she has carved out its seven pillars.1

9:2 She has prepared her meat,2 she has mixed her wine;

she also has arranged her table.3

9:3 She has sent out her female servants;

she calls out on the highest places4 of the city.

9:4 “Whoever is naive, let him turn in here,”

she says5 to those6 who lack understanding.7

9:5 “Come, eat8 some of my food,

and drink some of the wine I have mixed.9

9:6 Abandon your foolish ways10 so that you may live,11

and proceed12 in the way of understanding.”

9:7 Whoever corrects13 a mocker is asking for14 insult;15

whoever reproves a wicked person receives16 abuse.

9:8 Do not reprove17 a mocker or18 he will hate you;

reprove a wise person and he will love you.

9:9 Give instruction19 to a wise person,20 and he will become wiser still;

teach21 a righteous person and he will add to his22 learning.

9:10 The beginning23 of wisdom is to fear the Lord,24

and acknowledging25 the Holy One26 is understanding.

9:11 For because27 of me your days will be many,

and years will be added28 to your life.

9:12 If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage,29

but if you are a mocker,30 you alone must31 bear it.32

9:13 The woman called Folly33 is brash,34

she is naive35 and does not know36 anything.37

9:14 So she sits at the door of her house,

on a seat at the highest point of the city,

9:15 calling out38 to those who are passing by her39 in the way,40

who go straight41 on their way.

9:16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here,”

she says to those who lack understanding.42

9:17 “Stolen waters43 are sweet,

and food obtained in secret44 is pleasant!”

9:18 But they do not realize45 that the dead46 are there,

that her guests are in the depths of the grave.47