Wisdom Gives a Feast

1Wisdom has built her house

with its seven columns.

2She has prepared the meat

and set out the wine.

Her feast is ready.

3She has sent her servant women

to announce her invitation

from the highest hills:

4“Everyone who is ignorant

or foolish is invited!

5All of you are welcome

to my meat and wine.

6If you want to live,

give up your foolishness

and let understanding

guide your steps.”

True Wisdom

7Correct a worthless bragger,

and all you will get

are insults and injuries.

8Any bragger you correct

will only hate you.

But if you correct someone

who has common sense,

you will be loved.

9If you have good sense,

instruction will help you

to have even better sense.

And if you live right,

education will help you

to know even more.

10 Respect and obey the Lord!

This is the beginning

of wisdom.+

To have understanding,

you must know the Holy God.

11I am Wisdom. If you follow me,

you will live a long time.

12Good sense is good for you,

but if you brag,

you hurt yourself.

A Foolish Invitation

13Stupidity+ is reckless,

senseless, and foolish.

14She sits in front of her house

and on the highest hills

in the town.

15She shouts to everyone

who passes by,

16“If you are stupid,

come on inside!”

And to every fool she says,

17“Stolen water tastes best,

and the food you eat in secret

tastes best of all.”

18None who listen to Stupidity

understand that her guests

are as good as dead.