• The Way of Wisdom

  • 1 Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her seven pillars;
  • 2 She has slaughtered her meat, She has mixed her wine, She has also furnished her table.
  • 3 She has sent out her maidens, She cries out from the highest places of the city,
  • 4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
  • 5 “Come, eat of my bread And drink of the wine I have mixed.
  • 6 Forsake foolishness and live, And go in the way of understanding.
  • 7 “He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself.
  • 8 Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
  • 9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
  • 10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
  • 11 For by me your days will be multiplied, And years of life will be added to you.
  • 12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, And if you scoff, you will bear it alone.”

  • The Way of Folly

  • 13 A foolish woman is clamorous; She is simple, and knows nothing.
  • 14 For she sits at the door of her house, On a seat by the highest places of the city,
  • 15 To call to those who pass by, Who go straight on their way:
  • 16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here”; And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
  • 17 “Stolen water is sweet, And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
  • 18 But he does not know that the dead are there, That her guests are in the depths of hell.