Online Bible

Wisdom’s Invitation

Wisdom has ^abuilt her house,She has carved out her seven pillars;2 She has ¹^aprepared her food, she has ^bmixed her wine;She has also ^cset her table;3 She has ^asent out her attendants, she ^bcalls outFrom the ^ctops of the heights of the city:4 “^aWhoever is naive, let him turn in here!”To him who ^blacks ¹understanding she says,5 “Come, ^aeat of my foodAnd drink of the wine I have mixed.6 “¹Abandon your foolishness and ^alive,And ^bproceed in the way of understanding.”

7 One who ^acorrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself,And one who rebukes a wicked person gets ¹insults for himself.8 ^aDo not rebuke a scoffer, or he will hate you;^bRebuke a wise person and he will love you.9 Give instruction to a wise person and he will become still wiser;Teach a righteous person and he will ^aincrease his insight.10 The ^afear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.11 For ^aby me your days will be multiplied,And years of life will be added to you.12 If you are wise, you are wise ^afor yourself,And if you ^bscoff, you alone will ¹suffer from it.

13 ¹A woman of foolishness is ^aboisterous,She has a lack of understanding and ^bknows nothing.14 She sits at the doorway of her house,On a seat by ^athe high places of the city,15 Calling to those who pass by,Who are going straight on their paths:16 “^aWhoever is naive, let him turn in here,”And to him who lacks ¹understanding she says,17 “Stolen water is sweet;And ^abread eaten in secret is pleasant.”18 But he does not know that the ¹dead are there,That her guests are in the ^adepths of Sheol.

Wisdom and Foolishness Call Out

Wisdom has ^abuilt her house,She has hewn out her seven pillars;2 She has ¹^aslaughtered her cattle, she has ^bmixed her wine;She has also ^cprepared her table;3 She has ^asent out her maidens, she ^bcallsFrom the ^ctops of the heights of the city:4 “^aWhoever is simple, let him turn in here!”To him who ^blacks a heart of wisdom she says,5 “Come, ^aeat of my breadAnd drink of the wine I have mixed.6 “¹Forsake your simplicity and ^alive,And ^bstep into the way of understanding.”

7 He who ^adisciplines a scoffer receives disgrace for himself,And he who reproves a wicked man receives injury for himself.8 ^aDo not reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you,^bReprove a wise man and he will love you.9 Give knowledge to a wise man and he will be still wiser,Make a righteous man know it and he will ^aincrease his learning.10 The ^afear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom,And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.11 For ^aby me your days will become many,And years of life will be added to you.12 If you are wise, you are wise ^afor yourself,And if you ^bscoff, you alone will bear it.

13 The woman of ¹foolishness is ^aboisterous,A woman of simplicity, and ^bdoes not know anything.14 She sits at the doorway of her house,On a seat by ^athe high places of the city,15 To call to those who pass by that way,Who are making their paths straight:16 “^aWhoever is simple, let him turn in here,”And to him who lacks a heart of wisdom she says,17 “Stolen water is sweet;And ^abread eaten in secret is pleasant.”18 But he does not know that the ¹dead are there,That those she called are in the ^adepths of Sheol.