Proverbs
9 True wisdom+ has built its house;+ it has hewn out its seven pillars. 2 It has organized its meat slaughtering;* it has mixed its wine; more than that, it has set in order its table.+ 3 It has sent forth its lady attendants, that it may call out on top of the heights of the town: 4 “Whoever is inexperienced, let him turn aside here.”+ Whoever is in want of heart*+—she has said to him: 5 “Come, feed yourselves with my bread and share in drinking the wine that I have mixed.+ 6 Leave the inexperienced ones and keep living,+ and walk straight in the way of understanding.”+
7 He that is correcting the ridiculer is taking to himself dishonor,+ and he that is giving a reproof to someone wicked—a defect in him.+ 8 Do not reprove a ridiculer, that he may not hate you.+ Give a reproof to a wise person and he will love you.+ 9 Give to a wise person and he will become still wiser.+ Impart knowledge to someone righteous and he will increase in learning.
10 The fear of Jehovah is the start of wisdom,+ and the knowledge of the Most Holy One* is what understanding is.+ 11 For by me your days will become many,+ and to you years of life will be added.+ 12 If you have become wise, you have become wise in your own behalf;+ and if you have ridiculed, you will bear [it], just you alone.+
13 A woman of stupidity is boisterous.+ She is simplemindedness itself and has come to know nothing whatever.+ 14 And she has seated herself at the entrance of her house, upon a seat, [in] the high places of the town,+ 15 to call out to those passing along the way, those who are going straight ahead on their paths:+ 16 “Whoever is inexperienced, let him turn aside here.”+ And whoever is in want of heart*+—she has also said to him: 17 “Stolen waters themselves are sweet,+ and bread [eaten] in secrecy—it is pleasant.”+ 18 But he has not come to know that those impotent in death* are there, that those called in by her are in the low places of Sheʹol.*+