The Consequences of Accepting Wisdom or Folly9:1
Wisdom has built her house;
she has carved out its seven pillars.
9:2
She has prepared her meat, she has mixed her wine;
she also has arranged her table.
9:3
She has sent out her female servants;
she calls out on the highest places of the city.
9:4
“Whoever is naive, let him turn in here,”
she says to those who lack understanding.
9:5
“Come, eat some of my food,
and drink some of the wine I have mixed.
9:6
Abandon your foolish ways so that you may live,
and proceed in the way of understanding.”
9:7
Whoever corrects a mocker is asking for insult;
whoever reproves a wicked person receives abuse.
9:8
Do not reprove a mocker or he will hate you;
reprove a wise person and he will love you.
9:9
Give instruction to a wise person, and he will become wiser still;
teach a righteous person and he will add to his learning.
9:10
The beginning of wisdom is to fear the
Lord,
and acknowledging the Holy One is understanding.
9:11
For because of me your days will be many,
and years will be added to your life.
9:12
If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage,
but if you are a mocker, you alone must bear it.
9:13
The woman called Folly is brash,
she is naive and does not know anything.
9:14
So 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 are passing by her in the way,
who go straight on their way.
9:16
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here,”
she says to those who lack understanding.
9:17
“Stolen waters are sweet,
and food obtained in secret is pleasant!”
9:18
But they do not realize that the dead are there,
that her guests are in the depths of the grave.
