Proverbs 9

The Way of Wisdom

1 aWisdom has built her house;
she has hewn her bseven cpillars.
2She has dslaughtered her beasts; she has emixed her wine;
she has also fset her table.
3She has gsent out her young women to hcall
from ithe highest places in the town,
4 jWhoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
kTo him who lacks sense she says,
5Come, leat of my bread
and mdrink of nthe wine I have mixed.
6Leave oyour simple ways,
Or  Leave the company of the simple
and qlive,
rand walk in the way of insight.”
7 Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse,
and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.
8 sDo not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;
treprove a wise man, and he will love you.
9Give instruction
Hebrew lacks  instruction
to a wise man, and he will be vstill wiser;
teach a righteous man, and he will wincrease in learning.
10 xThe fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and ythe knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
11For by me zyour days will be multiplied,
and years will be added to your life.
12 aaIf you are wise, you are wise for yourself;
if you scoff, you alone will bear it.

The Way of Folly

13 abThe woman Folly is acloud;
she is seductive
Or full of simpleness
and aeknows nothing.
14She sits at the door of her house;
she takes a seat on afthe highest places of the town,
15calling to those who pass by,
who are aggoing straight on their way,
16 ahWhoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
And to him who lacks sense she says,
17 aiStolen water is sweet,
and ajbread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18But he does not know akthat the dead
Hebrew Rephaim
are there,
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
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