Proverbs 9:1-18
9 True wisdom has built its house;It has carved* out its seven pillars.
2 It has fully prepared its meat;*It has mixed its wine;It has also arranged its table.
3 It has sent out its female servantsTo call out from the heights above the city:+
4 “Whoever is inexperienced, let him come in here.”
She says to the one lacking good sense:*
5 “Come, eat my breadAnd share in drinking the wine that I have mixed.
6 Leave behind your inexperience* and live;+Walk forward in the way of understanding.”+
7 The one who corrects a ridiculer invites dishonor,+And whoever reproves someone wicked will get hurt.
8 Do not reprove a ridiculer, or he will hate you.+
Reprove a wise person, and he will love you.+
9 Share with a wise person, and he will become wiser.+
Teach someone righteous, and he will add to his learning.
10 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom,+And knowledge of the Most Holy One+ is understanding.
11 For by me your days will be many,+And years will be added to your life.
12 If you become wise, you are wise to your own advantage,But if you are a ridiculer, you alone will bear it.
13 A stupid woman is loud.+
She is ignorant and knows absolutely nothing.
14 She sits at the entrance of her houseOn a seat in the high places of the city,+
15 Calling out to those passing by,To those walking straight ahead on their way:
16 “Whoever is inexperienced, let him come in here.”
She says to those lacking good sense:*+
17 “Stolen waters are sweet,And food eaten in secret is pleasant.”+
18 But he does not know that those powerless in death are there,That her guests are in the depths of the Grave.*+
Footnotes
^ Or “hewed.”
^ Lit., “She has slaughtered her slaughtering.”
^ Lit., “in want of heart.”
^ Or “the inexperienced ones.”
^ Lit., “in want of heart.”