9
The Way of Wisdom
1Wisdom has ⚓built her house,
She has hewn out her seven pillars;
2⚓She has slaughtered her meat,
⚓She has mixed her wine,
She has also furnished her table.
3She has sent out her maidens,
She cries out from the highest places of the city,
4“Whoever⚓is simple, let him turn in here!”
As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
5“Come,⚓ eat of my bread
And drink of the wine I have mixed.
6Forsake foolishness and live,
And go in the way of understanding.
7“He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself,
And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself.
8⚓Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you;
⚓Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
9Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
Teach a just man,⚓and he will increase in learning.
10“The⚓ fear of the Lordis the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11⚓For by 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,
And if you scoff, you will bear it alone.”
The Way of Folly
13⚓A foolish woman is clamorous;
She is simple, and knows nothing.
14For she sits at the door of her house,
On a seat ⚓by the highest places of the city,
15To call to those who pass by,
Who go straight on their way:
16“Whoever⚓is simple, let him turn in here”;
And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
17“Stolen⚓ 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 hell.