Wisdom and Folly Invite
9 Wisdom has built her house.
She has carved out her seven pillars.
2 She has slaughtered her meat,
she has mixed her wine;
she has also set her table.
3 She has sent out her servant girls.
She calls from the city’s heights:
4 “Whoever is naïve, turn in here!”
To those who lack understanding, she says:
5 “Come, eat my bread
and drink the wine I have mixed.
6 Abandon your foolish ways and live!
Walk in the way of understanding.”
7 Whoever corrects a scoffer is asking for insult.
Whoever reproves a wicked man gets abuse.
8 Do not correct a scoffer or he will hate you.
Rebuke a wise man and he will love you.
9 Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still.
Teach a righteous man and he will increase in learning.
10 The fear of Adonai is the beginning of wisdom
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For through me your days will be many
and years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage,
but if you scoff, you bear it alone.
13 The foolish woman is rowdy.
She is naïve and knows nothing.
14 So she sits at the door of her house,
on a seat in the heights of the city,
15 calling to those who pass by,
who go straight on their way:
16 “Whoever is naïve, let him turn in here.”
To those who lack understanding, she says:
17 “Stolen water is sweet
and bread eaten in secret is delicious!”
18 But he does not know that the dead are there—
her guests are in the depths of Sheol.