Proverbs 9

₁Wisdom has built her house

with its seven columns.

₂She has prepared the meat

and set out the wine.

Her feast is ready.

₃She has sent her servant women

to announce her invitation

from the highest hills:

₄“Everyone who is ignorant

or foolish is invited!

₅All of you are welcome

to my meat and wine.

₆If you want to live,

give up your foolishness

and let understanding

guide your steps.”

₇Correct a worthless boaster,

and all you will get

are insults and injuries.

₈Any boaster you correct

will only hate you.

But if you correct someone

who has common sense,

you will be loved.

₉If you have good sense,

instruction will help you

to have even better sense.

And if you live right,

education will help you

to know even more.

₁₀Respect and obey the LORD!

This is the beginning

of wisdom.

To have understanding,

you must know the Holy God.

₁₁I am Wisdom. If you follow me,

you will live a long time.

₁₂Good sense is good for you,

but if you boast,

you hurt yourself.

₁₃Stupidity is reckless,

senseless, and foolish.

₁₄She sits in front of her house

and on the highest hills

in the town.

₁₅She shouts to everyone

who passes by,

₁₆“If you are stupid,

come on inside!”

And to every fool she says,

₁₇“Stolen water tastes best,

and the food you eat in secret

tastes best of all.”

₁₈None who listen to Stupidity

understand that her guests

are as good as dead.