Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

9 Wisdom has built her house,
    she has hewn her seven pillars.
² She has slaughtered her animals, she has mixed her wine,
    she has also set her table.
³ She has sent out her servant-girls, she calls
    from the highest places in the town,
⁴ “You that are simple, turn in here!”
    To those without sense she says,
⁵ “Come, eat of my bread
    and drink of the wine I have mixed.
⁶ Lay aside immaturity,^[a] and live,
    and walk in the way of insight.”

⁷ Whoever corrects a scoffer wins abuse;
    whoever rebukes the wicked gets hurt.
⁸ A scoffer who is rebuked will only hate you;
    the wise, when rebuked, will love you.
⁹ Give instruction^[b] to the wise, and they will become wiser still;
    teach the righteous and they will gain in learning.
¹⁰ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
    and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
¹¹ For by me your days will be multiplied,
    and years will be added to your life.
¹² If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;
    if you scoff, you alone will bear it.

¹³ The foolish woman is loud;
    she is ignorant and knows nothing.
¹⁴ She sits at the door of her house,
    on a seat at the high places of the town,
¹⁵ calling to those who pass by,
    who are going straight on their way,
¹⁶ “You who are simple, turn in here!”
    And to those without sense she says,
¹⁷ “Stolen water is sweet,
    and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
¹⁸ But they do not know that the dead^[c] are there,
    that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.