1Lady Wisdom has built her house; she has carved out her seven pillars.
2She has slaughtered her meat; she has mixed her wine; indeed, she has prepared her table.
3She has sent out her female servants; she calls out from the tops of the heights of the town,
4“Whoever is naïve, let him turn in here.” To the one lacking sense, she says,
5“Come! Eat my food, and drink the wine that I have mixed.
6Leave your naïve ways and live. And go straight ahead on the road of understanding.”
7The one who rebukes a mocker receives for himself shame, and the one who reproves a wicked person brings injury upon himself.
8Do not reprove a mocker or he will hate you; reprove a wise man and he will love you.
9Give instruction to a wise man and he will become even wiser; teach a righteous man and he will increase in learning.
10The fear of Yahweh is the starting point of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is the starting point of understanding.
11For by mea your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you.
12If you are wise, you are wise for your own benefit; and if you mock, you will bear the consequence by yourself.
13Lady Folly is boisterous, lacking in understanding, and does not know anything.
14And she sits at the entrance of her house, on a throne at the heights of the city,
15calling out to those passing by on the road, to the ones making their paths straight,
16“Whoever is naïve, let him turn in here.” And she says to the one lacking sense,
17“Stolen waters are sweet, and food eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18But he does not know that the dead are there; the ones who have accepted her invitation are in the depths of Sheol.
REV Bible
