Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out its seven pillars.
2 She has slaughtered her animals, mixed her wine, and set her table.
3 She has sent out her maidservants and called from the highest points of the city.
4 “Whoever is inexperienced, come in here!” she says to those who lack sense:
5 “Come, eat my bread and drink the wine I have mixed.
6 Leave the inexperienced behind and live; walk in the way of understanding.”
7 Whoever corrects a mocker brings shame on himself; whoever rebukes a wicked person gets his blemish.
8 Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise person, and he will love you.
9 Give instruction to a wise person, and he will become wiser still; teach a righteous person, and he will increase in learning.
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For through me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you mock, you alone will bear it.
13 The woman Folly is loud; she is naive and knows nothing.
14 She sits at the doorway of her house, on a seat at the highest points of the city.
15 She calls to those passing by, to those going straight along their paths:
16 “Whoever is inexperienced, come in here!” she says to those who lack sense:
17 “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret tastes good.”
18 But he does not know that the dead are there, and that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
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