[9:1] Wisdom has built her house and made seven columns for it.
[9:2] She has had an animal killed for a feast, mixed spices in the wine, and set the table.
[9:3] She has sent her servant women to call out from the highest place in town:
[9:4] “Come in, ignorant people!” And to the foolish she says,
[9:5] “Come, eat my food and drink the wine that I have mixed.
[9:6] Leave the company of ignorant people, and live. Follow the way of knowledge.”
[9:7] If you correct conceited people, you will only be insulted. If you reprimand evil people, you will only get hurt.
[9:8] Never correct conceited people; they will hate you for it. But if you correct the wise, they will respect you.
[9:9] Anything you say to the wise will make them wiser. Whatever you tell the righteous will add to their knowledge.
[9:10] To be wise you must first have reverence for the Lord. If you know the Holy One, you have understanding.
[9:11] Wisdom will add years to your life.
[9:12] You are the one who will profit if you have wisdom, and if you reject it, you are the one who will suffer.
[9:13] Stupidity is like a loud, ignorant, shameless woman.
[9:14] She sits at the door of her house or on a seat in the highest part of town,
[9:15] and calls out to people passing by, who are minding their own business:
[9:16] “Come in, ignorant people!” To the foolish she says,
[9:17] “Stolen water is sweeter. Stolen bread tastes better.”
[9:18] Her victims do not know that the people die who go to her house, that those who have already entered are now deep in the world of the dead.