[1] Wisdom has built her house; she has made its seven columns. [2] She has prepared her food and wine; she has set her table. [3] She has sent out her servant girls, and she calls out from the highest place in the city. [4] She says to those who are uneducated, "Come in here, you foolish people! [5] Come and eat my food and drink the wine I have prepared. [6] Stop your foolish ways, and you will live; take the road of understanding. [7] "If you correct someone who makes fun of wisdom, you will be insulted. If you correct an evil person, you will get hurt. [8] Do not correct those who make fun of wisdom, or they will hate you. But correct the wise, and they will love you. [9] Teach the wise, and they will become even wiser; teach good people, and they will learn even more. [10] "Wisdom begins with respect for the LORD, and understanding begins with knowing the Holy One. [11] If you live wisely, you will live a long time; wisdom will add years to your life. [12] The wise person is rewarded by wisdom, but whoever makes fun of wisdom will suffer for it." [13] Foolishness is like a loud woman; she does not have wisdom or knowledge. [14] She sits at the door of her house at the highest place in the city. [15] She calls out to those who are passing by, who are going along, minding their own business. [16] She says to those who are uneducated, "Come in here, you foolish people! [17] Stolen water is sweeter, and food eaten in secret tastes better." [18] But these people don't know that everyone who goes there dies, that her guests end up deep in the grave.
