9 Wisdom hath builded her house,
she hath hewn out her seven pillars:
² she hath killed her beasts;
she hath mingled her wine;
she hath also furnished her table.
³ She hath sent forth her maidens:
she crieth upon the highest places of the city,
⁴ Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither:
as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
⁵ Come, eat of my bread,
and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
⁶ Forsake the foolish, and live;
and go in the way of understanding.

⁷ He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame:
and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
⁸ Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee:
rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
⁹ Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet 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 is understanding.
¹¹ For by me thy days shall be multiplied,
and the years of thy life shall be increased.
¹² If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself:
but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.

¹³ A foolish woman is clamorous:
she is simple, and knoweth nothing.
¹⁴ For she sitteth at the door of her house,
on a seat in the high places of the city,
¹⁵ to call passengers who go right on their ways:
¹⁶ Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither:
and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
¹⁷ Stolen waters are sweet,
and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
¹⁸ But he knoweth not that the dead are there;
and that her guests are in the depths of hell.