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9:1  Wisdom has built her [spacious and sufficient] house; She has hewn out and set up her seven pillars.
9:2  She has prepared her food, she has mixed her wine; She has also set her table.
9:3  She has sent out her maidens, she calls From the highest places of the city:
9:4  “Whoever is naive or inexperienced, let him turn in here!” As for him who lacks understanding, she says,
9:5  “Come, eat my food And drink the wine I have mixed [and accept my gifts].
9:6  “Leave [behind] your foolishness [and the foolish] and live, And walk in the way of insight and understanding.”
9:7  He who corrects and instructs a scoffer gets dishonor for himself, And he who rebukes a wicked man gets insults for himself.
9:8  Do not correct a scoffer [who foolishly ridicules and takes no responsibility for his error] or he will hate you; Correct a wise man [who learns from his error], and he will love you.
9:9  Give instruction to a wise man and he will become even wiser; Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.
9:10  The [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the beginning and the preeminent part of wisdom [its starting point and its essence], And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding and spiritual insight.
9:11  For by me (wisdom from God) your days will be multiplied, And years of life shall be increased.
9:12  If you are wise, you are wise for yourself [for your own benefit]; If you scoff [thoughtlessly ridicule and disdain], you alone will pay the penalty.
9:13  The foolish woman is restless and noisy; She is naive and easily misled and thoughtless, and knows nothing at all [of eternal value].
9:14  She sits at the doorway of her house, On a seat by the high and conspicuous places of the city,
9:15  Calling to those who pass by, Who are making their paths straight:
9:16  “Whoever is naive or inexperienced, let him turn in here!” And to him who lacks understanding (common sense), she says,
9:17  “Stolen waters (pleasures) are sweet [because they are forbidden]; And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
9:18  But he does not know that the spirits of the dead are there, And that her guests are [already] in the depths of Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead).