Proverbs
Summary
Wisdom and Folly are contrasted as two hostesses inviting guests to their houses. Wisdom prepares a feast of understanding, while Folly offers the stolen waters of ignorance. It emphasizes that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom and that discretion prolongs life.
Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars:
She has killed her beasts; she has mingled her wine; she has also furnished her table.
She has sent forth her maidens: she cries upon the highest places of the city,
"whoever is simple, let him turn in Here:" as for him that lacks understanding, she says to him,
"Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding."
He that reproves a scorner gets to himself shame: and he that rebukes a wicked man gets himself a blot.
Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate you: rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
For by me your days shall be multiplied, and the years of your life shall be increased.
If you are wise, you shall be wise for yourself: but if you scorn, you alone shall bear it.
A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knows nothing.
For she sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
To call passengers who go right on their ways:
"whoever is simple, let him turn in Here:" and as for him that lacks understanding, she says to him,
"Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant."
But he knows not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.