Proverbs Monthly
The Consequences of Accepting Wisdom or Folly[a]
9 Wisdom has built her house;
she has carved out its seven pillars.[b]
2 She has prepared her meat,[c] she has mixed her wine;
she also has arranged her table.[d]
3 She has sent out her female servants;
she calls out[e] on the highest places[f] of the city.
4 “Whoever is naive, let him turn in here.”
To those[g] who lack understanding,[h] she has said,[i]
5 “Come, eat[j] some of my food,
and drink some of the wine I have mixed.[k]
6 Abandon your foolish ways[l] so that you may live,[m]
and proceed[n] in the way of understanding.”
7 Whoever corrects[o] a mocker is asking for[p] insult;[q]
whoever reproves a wicked person receives[r] abuse.
8 Do not reprove[s] a mocker or[t] he will hate you;
reprove a wise person and he will love you.
9 Give instruction[u] to a wise person,[v] and he will become wiser still;
teach[w] a righteous person and he will add to his[x] learning.
10 The beginning[y] of wisdom is to fear the Lord,[z]
and acknowledging[aa] the Holy One[ab] is understanding.
11 For because[ac] of me your days will be many,
and years will be added[ad] to your life.
12 If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage,[ae]
but if[af] you have mocked,[ag] you alone must[ah] bear it.[ai]
13 The woman called Folly[aj] is brash,[ak]
she is naive[al] and does not know[am] anything.[an]
14 And she has sat down at the door of her house,
on a seat at the highest point of the city,
15 calling out[ao] to those who are passing by her[ap] in the way,[aq]
who go straight[ar] on their way.
16 “Whoever is naive, let him turn in here,”
To those who lack understanding[as] she has said,[at]
17 “Stolen waters[au] are sweet,
and food obtained in secret[av] is pleasant!”
18 But they do not realize[aw] that the dead[ax] are there,
that her guests are in the depths of the grave.[ay]
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