Wisdom invites all to her feast. Folly calls another way.
9:1. Wisdom hath built herself a house, she hath hewn her out seven
pillars.
9:2. She hath slain her victims, mingled her wine, and set forth her
table.
9:3. She hath sent her maids to invite to the tower, and to the walls of
the city:
9:4. Whosoever is a little one, let him come to me. And to the unwise
she said:
9:5. Come, eat my bread, and drink the wine which I have mingled for
you.
9:6. Forsake childishness, and live, and walk by the ways of prudence.
9:7. He that teacheth a scorner, doth an injury to himself; and he that
rebuketh a wicked man, getteth himself a blot.
9:8. Rebuke not a scorner, lest he hate thee. Rebuke a wise man, and he
will love thee.
9:9. 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.
9:10. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge
of the holy is prudence.
9:11. For by me shall thy days be multiplied, and years of life shall be
added to thee.
9:12. If thou be wise, thou shalt be so to thyself: and if a scorner,
thou alone shalt bear the evil.
9:13. A foolish woman and clamorous, and full of allurements, and
knowing nothing at all,
9:14. Sat at the door of her house, upon a seat, in a high place of the
city,
9:15. To call them that pass by the way, and go on their journey:
9:16. He that is a little one, let him turn to me. And to the fool she
said:
9:17. Stolen waters are sweeter, and hidden bread is more pleasant.
9:18. And he did not know that giants are there, and that her guests are
in the depths of hell.