9:1 Wisdom has built her house. She has hewn out her seven pillars. 9:2 She has killed her beasts. She has mingled her wine. She has also arranged her table.
9:3 She has sent forth her maidens. She cries out upon the highest places of the city:
9:4 He who is simple, let him turn in here. As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him, 9:5Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
9:6 Forsake you* simpleness and live and advance in the way of understanding.
9:7 He who disciplines a scoffer gets himself reviling. And he who reproves a wicked man gets himself a bruise. 9:8 Reprove not a scoffer, lest he hate you.
Reprove a wise man and he will love you. 9:9Give opportunity to a wise man and he will be yet wiser. Teach a righteous man and he will increase in learning.
9:10 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding. 9:11 Because by me your days will be multiplied and the years of your life will be increased.
9:12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself. And if you scoff, you alone will bear it.
9:13 The foolish woman is clamorous, simple and knows nothing. 9:14 And she sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, 9:15 to call to those who pass by, who go right on their ways:
He who is simple, let him turn in here. 9:16 And as for him who is void of understanding, she says to him, 9:17 Stolen waters are sweet and bread in secret is pleasant.
9:18 But he does not know because the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.