Wisdom and Foolishness Call Out
1Wisdom has built her house.
She has set up its seven pillars.
2She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine.
She has also set her table.
3She has sent out her servants.
She calls out from the highest point of the city.
4She says, “Let all who are childish come to my house!”
She speaks to those who have no sense. She says,
5“Come and eat my food.
Drink the wine I have mixed.
6Leave your childish ways and you will live.
Walk in the way of understanding.”
7When you correct someone who makes fun of others, you might be laughed at.
When you warn a sinner, you might get hurt.
8Don’t warn those who make fun of others, or they will hate you.
Warn those who are wise, and they will love you.
9Teach a wise person, and they will become even wiser.
Teach a person who does right, and they will learn even more.
10If you want to become wise, you must begin by respecting the Lord.
To know the Holy One is to gain understanding.
11Through wisdom, you will live a long time.
Years will be added to your life.
12If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you.
If you make fun of others, you alone will suffer.
13The woman called Foolishness is wild.
She is childish and knows nothing.
14She sits at the door of her house.
She sits at the highest point of the city.
15She calls out to those who pass by.
She calls out to those who go straight on their way. She says,
16“Let all who are childish come to my house!”
She speaks to those who have no sense.
17She says, “Stolen water is sweet.
Food eaten in secret tastes good!”
18But they don’t know that dead people are there.
They don’t know that her guests are deep in the place of the dead.
1Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: 2She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.9.2 her beasts: Heb. her killing 3She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city, 4Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, 5Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. 6Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding. 7He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. 8Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. 9Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. 10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. 11For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased. 12If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.
13¶ A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. 14For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, 15To call passengers who go right on their ways: 16Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, 17Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.9.17 eaten…: Heb. of secrecies 18But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.
