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Wisdom's Invitation

¹ Wisdom has built her house; she has made it strong with seven columns.^{[a] 2} She has cooked meat, mixed wine, and put food on the table. ³ She has sent her servant girls to announce from the highest hill in the city,^{[b] 4} "Whoever needs instruction, come." She invites all the simple people and says, ⁵ "Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have prepared. ⁶ Leave your old, foolish ways and live! Advance along the path of understanding."

⁷ Criticize a person who is rude and shows no respect, and you will only get insults. Correct the wicked, and you will only get hurt. ⁸ Don't correct such people, or they will hate you. But correct those who are wise, and they will love you. ⁹ Teach the wise, and they will become wiser. Instruct those who live right, and they will gain more knowledge.

¹⁰ Wisdom begins with fear and respect for the Lord. Knowledge of the Holy One leads to understanding. ¹¹ Wisdom will help you live longer; she will add years to your life. ¹² If you become wise, it will be for your own good. If you are rude and show no respect, you are the one who will suffer.

Foolishness—the Other Woman

¹³ Foolishness is that other woman, who is loud, stupid, and knows nothing. ¹⁴ She sits on her chair at the door of her house, up on the highest hill of the city. ¹⁵ When people walk by, she calls out to them. They show no interest in her, but still she says, ¹⁶ "Whoever needs instruction, come." She invites all the simple people and says, ¹⁷ "Stolen water is sweet. Stolen bread tastes good." ¹⁸ Those simple people don't realize that her house is full of ghosts and that her guests have entered the world of the dead.