1 Wisdom and Foolishness Call Out Wisdom has built her house,She has hewn out her seven pillars;
2 She has 9:2 Lit slaughtered her slaughter slaughtered her cattle, she has mixed her wine;She has also prepared her table;
3 She has sent out her maidens, she callsFrom the tops of the heights of the city:
4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”To him who lacks a heartof wisdomshe says,
5 “Come, eat of my breadAnd drink of the wine I have mixed.
6 “ 9:6Or Forsake the simple ones Forsakeyoursimplicity and live,And step into the way of understanding.”
7 ¶He who disciplines a scoffer receives disgrace for himself,And he who reproves a wicked manreceivesinjury for himself.
8 Do not reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you,Reprove a wise man and he will love you.
9 Giveknowledgeto a wise man and he will be still wiser,Make a righteous man knowitand he will increasehislearning.
10 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom,And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For by me your days will become many,And years of life will be added to you.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself,And if you scoff, you alone will bear it.
13 ¶The woman of 9:13Insolent foolishness of one who fails in wisdom due to willful sin foolishness is boisterous,A woman ofsimplicity, and does not know anything.
14 She sits at the doorway of her house,On a seat by the high places of the city,
15 To call to those who pass bythatway,Who are making their paths straight:
16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here,”And to him who lacks a heartof wisdomshe says,
17 “Stolen water is sweet;And breadeatenin secret is pleasant.”
18 But he does not know that the 9:18Lit departed spirits dead are there,Thatthose she called are in the depths of Sheol.