⁷ The fear of the Lord
is the beginning of knowledge;^(A)
fools despise wisdom and discipline.^(B)

¹³ Folly is a rowdy woman;^(A)
she is gullible and knows nothing.^(B)
14 She sits by the doorway of her house,
on a seat at the highest point of the city,
¹⁵ calling to those who pass by,
who go straight ahead on their paths:^(C)
16 “Whoever is inexperienced, enter here!”
To the one who lacks sense, she says,
¹⁷ “Stolen water is sweet,
and bread eaten secretly is tasty!” ^(D)
18 But he doesn’t know that the departed spirits are there,^(E)
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.^(F)

⁸ A wise heart accepts commands,^(A)
but foolish lips will be destroyed.

¹⁸ The one who conceals hatred has lying lips,
and whoever spreads slander is a fool.^(A)

²³ As shameful conduct is pleasure for a fool,^(A)
so wisdom is for a person of understanding.

²⁹ The one who brings ruin on his household^(A)
will inherit the wind,^(B)
and a fool will be a slave
to someone whose heart is wise.