Proverbs 9

9 ¹ Wisdom — Jesus, the wisdom of our Father — has built her house; she has hewn out 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 young women to call from the highest places of the town: ⁴ "Whoever is simple, let him come in here!" To the one who lacks sense she says, ⁵ "Come, eat my bread and drink the wine I have mixed. ⁶ Leave your simple ways, and live; walk in the way of insight." ⁷ Whoever corrects a mocker brings abuse on himself, and whoever rebukes a wicked man gets hurt. ⁸ Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. ⁹ Instruct a wise man and he will grow wiser; teach a righteous man and he will learn even more. ¹⁰ The fear of our Father 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.

Folly's Counterfeit Invitation

¹³ The woman Folly is loud; she is naive and knows nothing. ¹⁴ She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest places of the town, ¹⁵ calling to those who pass by, who are going straight on their way: ¹⁶ "Whoever is simple, let him come in here!" And to the one who lacks sense she says, ¹⁷ "Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant." ¹⁸ But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of the grave.