CHAPTER 9
1Wisdom has built her house,
she has hewn her pillars, seven.
2She has slaughtered her meat,
has mixed her wine,
also laid out her table.
3She has sent out her young women,
calls loud from the city’s heights:
4Whoever the dupe, let him turn aside here,
the senseless—she said to him.
5Come, partake of my bread,
and drink the wine I have mixed.
6Forsake foolishness and live,
and stride on the way of discernment.
7Who reproves the scoffer takes on disgrace,
who rebukes the wicked is maimed.
8Rebuke not the scoffer lest he hate you.
Rebuke the wise and he will love you.
9Give to the wise, he will get more wisdom,
inform the righteous, he will increase instruction.
10The beginning of wisdom is fear of the LORD,
and knowing the Holy One is discernment.
11For through Me your days will be many,
and the years of your life will increase.
12If you get wisdom, you get yourself wisdom,
but if you scoff, you bear it alone.
13The foolish woman bustles about.
Gullibility!—and she knows nothing of it.
14And she sits at the entrance of her house
in a chair on the city’s heights,
15to call out to the wayfarers
16Whoever the dupe, let him turn aside here,
and the senseless—she said to him.
17“Stolen waters are sweet,
and purloined bread is delicious.”
18And he does not know that shades are there,
in the depths of Sheol, her guests.