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10 If you want to become wise, you must begin by respecting the Lord.
    To know the Holy One is to gain understanding.
11 Through wisdom, you will live a long time.
    Years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you.
    If you make fun of others, you alone will suffer.

13 The woman called Foolishness is wild.
    She is childish and knows nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house.
    She sits at the highest point of the city.
15 She calls out to those who pass by.
    She calls out to those who go straight on their way. She says,
16 “Let all who are childish come to my house!”
    She speaks to those who have no sense.
17 She says, “Stolen water is sweet.
    Food eaten in secret tastes good!”
18 But they don’t know that dead people are there.
    They don’t know that her guests are deep in the place of the dead.

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10 The fear of the Lord(A) is the beginning of wisdom,
    and knowledge of the Holy One(B) is understanding.(C)
11 For through wisdom[a] your days will be many,
    and years will be added to your life.(D)
12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you;
    if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.

13 Folly is an unruly woman;(E)
    she is simple and knows nothing.(F)
14 She sits at the door of her house,
    on a seat at the highest point of the city,(G)
15 calling out(H) to those who pass by,
    who go straight on their way,
16     “Let all who are simple come to my house!”
To those who have no sense(I) she says,
17     “Stolen water is sweet;
    food eaten in secret is delicious!(J)
18 But little do they know that the dead are there,
    that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.(K)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:11 Septuagint, Syriac and Targum; Hebrew me