Proverbs 9

¹Wisdom has built her house ; she has hewn her seven pillars .

²She has slaughtered her beasts ; she has mixed her wine ; she has also set her table .

³She has sent out her young women to call from the highest places in the town ,

⁴Whoever is simple , let him turn in here ! To him who lacks sense she says ,

⁵Come , eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed .

⁶Leave your simple ways , and live , and walk in the way of insight .

⁷Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse , and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury .

⁸Do not reprove a scoffer , or he will hate you; reprove a wise man , and he will love you.

⁹Give instruction to a wise man , and he will be still wiser ; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning .

¹⁰The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom , and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight .

¹¹For by me your days will be multiplied , and years will be added to your life .

¹²If you are wise , you are wise for yourself; if you scoff , you alone will bear it.

¹³The woman Folly is loud ; she is seductive and knows nothing .

¹⁴She sits at the door of her house ; she takes a seat on the highest places of the town ,

¹⁵calling to those who pass by , who are going straight on their way ,

¹⁶Whoever is simple , let him turn in here ! And to him who lacks sense she says ,

¹⁷Stolen water is sweet , and bread eaten in secret is pleasant .

¹⁸But he does not know that the dead are there , that her guests are in the depths of Sheol .