Wisdom versus Foolishness
1 Wisdom has built her house; x
she has carved out her seven pillars.
2 She has prepared her meat; y she has mixed her wine; z
she has also set her table. a
3 She has sent out her female servants; b
she calls out from the highest points of the city: c
4 “Whoever is inexperienced, enter here! ”
To the one who lacks sense, d she says,
5 “Come, eat my bread, e
and drink the wine I have mixed.
6 Leave inexperience behind, and you will live;
pursue the way of understanding.
7 The one who corrects a mocker
will bring abuse on himself;
the one who rebukes the wicked will get hurt. C
8 Don’t rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; f
rebuke the wise, and he will love you. g
9 Instruct the wise, and he will be wiser still;
teach the righteous, and he will learn more. h
10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, i
and the knowledge of the Holy One j is understanding.
11 For by me your days will be many,
and years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for your own benefit; k
if you mock, you alone will bear the consequences.”
she is gullible and knows nothing. m
14 She sits by the doorway of her house,
on a seat at the highest point of the city,
15 calling to those who pass by,
who go straight ahead on their paths: n
16 “Whoever is inexperienced, enter here! ”
To the one who lacks sense, she says,
and bread eaten secretly is tasty! ” o
18 But he doesn’t know that the departed spirits are there, p
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol. q