Wisdom versus Foolishness

1Wisdom has built her house;a

she has carved out her seven pillars.

2She has prepared her meat;b she has mixed her wine;c

she has also set her table.d

3She has sent out her female servants;e

she calls out from the highest points of the city:f

4“Whoever is inexperienced, enter here! ”

To the one who lacks sense,g she says,

5“Come, eat my bread,h

and drink the wine I have mixed.

6Leave inexperience behind, and you will live;

pursue the way of understanding.

7The one who corrects a mocker

will bring dishonor on himself;

the one who rebukes a wicked man will get hurt.i

8Don’t rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you;j

rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.k

9Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still;

teach a righteous man, and he will learn more.l

10“The •fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,m

and the knowledge of the Holy Onen is understanding.

11For by Wisdom your days will be many,

and years will be added to your life.

12If you are wise, you are wise for your own benefit;o

if you mock, you alone will bear the consequences.”

13The woman Folly is rowdy;p

she is gullible and knows nothing.q

14She sits by the doorway of her house,

on a seat at the highest point of the city,

15calling to those who pass by,

who go straight ahead on their paths:r

16“Whoever is inexperienced, enter here! ”

To the one who lacks sense, she says,

17“Stolen water is sweet,

and bread eaten secretly is tasty! ”s

18But he doesn’t know that the departed spirits are there,t

that her guests are in the depths of •Sheol.u