IX. aWisdom hath builded her house,

She hath hewn out her bseven cpillars:

2  dShe hath killed * her beasts; she hath emingled her wine;

She hath also ffurnished her table.

3  She hath sent forth gher maidens:

hShe crieth upon ithe highest places of the city,

4  jWhoso is simple, let him turn in hither:

As for jkhim that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

5  lCome, eat of my bread,

And drink of ethe wine which I have mingled.

6  Forsake mthe foolish, and slive;

And ngo in the way of understanding.

7  He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame:

And he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.

8  oReprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee:

pRebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

9  Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser:

Teach a just man, and qhe will increase in learning.

10  rThe fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom:

And rrthe knowledge of the holy is understanding.

11  sFor by me thy days shall be multiplied,

And sthe years of thy life shall be increased.

12  tIf thou be wise, thou shalt be wise ufor thyself:

But if thou scornest, wthou alone shalt bear it.

13  xA foolish woman is yclamorous:

She is simple, and zknoweth nothing.

14  For she sitteth at the door of her house,

On a seat in athe high places of the city,

15  To call passengers

Who bgo right on their ways:

16  cWhoso is simple, let him turn in hither:

And as for chim that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

17  dStolen waters are sweet,

And bread * eaten in secret is pleasant.

18  But he knoweth not ethat fthe dead are there;

And that her guests are in the depths of hell.