Proverbs 9

¹ Wisdom has made her house, putting up her seven pillars.

² She has put her fat beasts to death; her wine is mixed, her table is ready.

³ She has sent out her women-servants; her voice goes out to the highest places of the town, saying,

⁴ Whoever is simple, let him come in here; and to him who has no sense, she says:

⁵ Come, take of my bread, and of my wine which is mixed.

⁶ Give up the simple ones and have life, and go in the way of knowledge.

⁷ He who gives teaching to a man of pride gets shame for himself; he who says sharp words to a sinner gets a bad name.

⁸ Do not say sharp words to a man of pride, or he will have hate for you; make them clear to a wise man, and you will be dear to him.

⁹ Give teaching to a wise man, and he will become wiser; give training to an upright man, and his learning will be increased.

¹⁰ The fear of the Lord is the start of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One gives a wise mind

¹¹ For by me your days will be increased, and the years of your life will be long.

¹² If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if your heart is full of pride, you only will have the pain of it.

¹³ The foolish woman is full of noise; she has no sense at all.

¹⁴ Seated at the door of her house, in the high places of the town,

¹⁵ Crying out to those who go by, going straight on their way, she says:

¹⁶ Whoever is simple, let him come in here: and to him who is without sense, she says:

¹⁷ Drink taken without right is sweet, and food in secret is pleasing.

¹⁸ But he does not see that the dead are there, that her guests are in the deep places of the underworld.