Wisdom versus Foolishness

9 Wisdom has built her house; g

she has carved out her seven pillars.

2 She has prepared her meat; h she has mixed her wine; i

she has also set her table. j

3 She has sent out her female servants; k

she calls out from the highest points of the city: l

4 “Whoever is inexperienced, enter here!”

To the one who lacks sense, m she says,

5 “Come, eat my bread, n

and drink the wine I have mixed.

6 Leave inexperience behind, and you will live;

pursue the way of understanding.

7 The one who corrects a mocker

will bring dishonor on himself;

the one who rebukes a wicked man will get hurt. o

8 Don’t rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; p

rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. q

9 Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still;

teach a righteous man, and he will learn more. r

10 “The * fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, s

and the knowledge of the Holy One t is understanding.

11 For by Wisdom your days will be many,

and years will be added to your life.

12 If you are wise, you are wise for your own benefit; u

if you mock, you alone will bear the consequences.”

13 The woman Folly is rowdy; v

she is gullible and knows nothing. w

14 She sits by the doorway of her house,

on a seat at the highest point of the city,

15 calling to those who pass by,

who go straight ahead on their paths: x

16 “Whoever is inexperienced, enter here!”

To the one who lacks sense, she says,

17 “Stolen water is sweet,

and bread eaten secretly is tasty!” y

18 But he doesn’t know that the departed spirits are there, z

that her guests are in the depths of * Sheol. a