9:1 Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out its seven pillars.
9:2 She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table.
9:3 She has sent out her maids, and she calls from the highest point of the city.
9:4 “Let all who are simple come in here!” she says to those who lack judgment.
9:5 “Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed.
9:6 Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.
9:7 “Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse.
9:8 Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you.
9:9 Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.
9:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
9:11 For through me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.
9:12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.”
9:13 The woman Folly is loud; she is undisciplined and without knowledge.
9:14 She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city,
9:15 calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way.
9:16 “Let all who are simple come in here!” she says to those who lack judgment.
9:17 “Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!”
9:18 But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of the grave.
9:1 Wisdom has built her house; / She has hewn out her seven pillars;
9:2 She has slaughtered her beasts; / She has mingled her wine; / She has also set her table;
9:3 She has sent forth her maidens; / She calls from the highest places of the city:
9:4 Whoever is simple, let him turn in here; / As for him who lacks sense, she says to him,
9:5 Come, eat of my bread, / And drink of the wine which I have mingled.
9:6 Forsake foolishness, and live, / And walk in the way of understanding.
9:7 He who corrects a scorner gets dishonor for himself, / And he who reproves a wicked man blemishes himself.
9:8 Do not reprove a scorner, lest he hate you; / Reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
9:9 Impart something to a wise man, and he will become wiser still; / Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
9:10 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom, / And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
9:11 For by me your days will be multiplied, / And the years of your life will be increased.
9:12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; / And if you are scornful, you alone will bear it.
9:13 The woman Foolishness is rowdy; / She is simple and knows nothing.
9:14 And she sits at the door of her house, / On a seat in the heights of the city,
9:15 To call to those who pass by, / Who go straight on their ways:
9:16 Whoever is simple, let him turn in here; / And as for him who lacks sense, she says to him,
9:17 Stolen waters are sweet, / And bread gotten in secret is pleasant.
9:18 But he does not know that the dead are there, / That her guests are in the depths of Sheol.