9 Wisdom hath built herself a house, she hath hewn her out seven pillars.

² She hath slain her victims, mingled her wine, and set forth her table.

³ She hath sent her maids to invite to the tower, and to the walls of the city:

⁴ Whosoever is a little one, let him come to me. And to the unwise she said:

⁵ Come, eat my bread, and drink the wine which I have mingled for you.

⁶ Forsake childishness, and live, and walk by the ways of prudence.

⁷ He that teacheth a scorner, doth an injury to himself: and he that rebuketh a wicked man, getteth himself a blot.

⁸ Rebuke not a scorner lest he hate thee. Rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

⁹ Give an occasion to a wise man, and wisdom shall be added to him. Teach a just man, and he shall make haste to receive it.

¹⁰ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is prudence.

¹¹ For by me shall thy days be multiplied, and years of life shall be added to thee.

¹² If thou be wise, thou shalt be so to thyself: and if a scorner, thou alone shalt bear the evil.

¹³ A foolish woman and clamorous, and full of allurements, and knowing nothing at all,

¹⁴ Sat at the door of her house, upon a seat, in a high place of the city,

¹⁵ To call them that pass by the way, and go on their journey:

¹⁶ He that is a little one, let him turn to me. And to the fool she said:

¹⁷ Stolen waters are sweeter, and hid den bread is more pleasant.

¹⁸ And he did not know that giants are there, and that her guests are in the depths of hell.