Wisdom’s Invitation
9
Wisdom has Abuilt her house,
She has hewn out her seven pillars;
She has 1Aprepared her food, she has Bmixed her wine;
She has also Cset her table;
She has Asent out her maidens, she Bcalls
From the Ctops of the heights of the city:
AWhoever is 1naive, let him turn in here!”
To him who Blacks 2understanding she says,
Come, Aeat of my food
And drink of the wine I have mixed.
1Forsake your folly and Alive,
And Bproceed in the way of understanding.”
He who Acorrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself,
And he who reproves a wicked man gets 1insults for himself.
ADo not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you,
BReprove a wise man and he will love you.
Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser,
Teach a righteous man and he will Aincrease his learning.
10 The Afear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For Aby me your days will be multiplied,
And years of life will be added to you.
12  If you are wise, you are wise Afor yourself,
And if you Bscoff, you alone will bear it.
13 The 1woman of folly is Aboisterous,
She is 2naive and Bknows nothing.
14 She sits at the doorway of her house,
On a seat by Athe high places of the city,
15  Calling to those who pass by,
Who are making their paths straight:
16 AWhoever is 1naive, let him turn in here,”
And to him who lacks 2understanding she says,
17 Stolen water is sweet;
And Abread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 But he does not know that the 1dead are there,
That her guests are in the Adepths of Sheol.
A 9:1 1 Cor 3:9, 10; Eph 2:20-22; 1 Pet 2:5 1 9:2 Lit slaughtered her slaughter A 9:2 Matt 22:4 B 9:2 Song 8:2 C 9:2 Luke 14:16, 17 A 9:3 Ps 68:11; Matt 22:3 B 9:3 Prov 8:1, 2 C 9:3 Prov 9:14 A 9:4 Prov 8:5; 9:16 1 9:4 Lit simple B 9:4 Prov 6:32 2 9:4 Lit heart A 9:5 Song 5:1; Is 55:1; John 6:27 1 9:6 Or Forsake the simple ones A 9:6 Prov 8:35; 9:11 B 9:6 Ezek 11:20; 37:24 A 9:7 Prov 23:9 1 9:7 Lit a blemish A 9:8 Prov 15:12; Matt 7:6 B 9:8 Ps 141:5; Prov 10:8 A 9:9 Prov 1:5 A 9:10 Job 28:28; Ps 111:10; Prov 1:7 A 9:11 Prov 3:16; 10:27 A 9:12 Job 22:2; Prov 14:14 B 9:12 Prov 19:29 1 9:13 Or foolish woman A 9:13 Prov 7:11 2 9:13 Lit simple B 9:13 Prov 5:6 A 9:14 Prov 9:3 A 9:16 Prov 9:4 1 9:16 Lit simple 2 9:16 Lit heart A 9:17 Prov 20:17 1 9:18 Lit departed spirits A 9:18 Prov 7:27