The Way of Wisdom

¹ Wisdom has built her house;

she has carved out her seven pillars.

² She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;

she has also set her table.

³ She has sent out her maidservants;

she calls out from the heights of the city.

⁴ “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”

she says to him who lacks judgment.

⁵ “Come, eat my bread

and drink the wine I have mixed.

⁶ Leave your folly behind, and you will live;

walk in the way of understanding.”

⁷ He who corrects a mocker brings shame on himself;

he who rebukes a wicked man taints himself.^*

⁸ Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you;

rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.

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

teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning.

¹⁰ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,

and knowledge of the Holy One^* is understanding.

¹¹ For through wisdom your days will be multiplied,

and years will be added to your life.

¹² If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage;

but if you scoff, you alone will bear the consequences.

The Way of Folly

¹³ The woman named Folly is loud;

she is naive and knows nothing.

¹⁴ She sits at the door of her house,

on a seat in the heights of the city,

¹⁵ calling out to those who pass by,

who make their paths straight.

¹⁶ “Whoever is simple,^* let him turn in here!”

she says to him who lacks judgment.

¹⁷ “Stolen water is sweet,

and bread eaten in secret is tasty!”

¹⁸ But they do not know that the dead are there,

that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.