OEB PRO Chapter 9

The Two Hostesses – Wisdom and Folly

The Invitation of Wisdom

9 Wisdom has built her a house,

has set up her seven pillars,

2 slain her beasts, and mingled her wine,

and also spread her table.

3 She has sent forth her maidens to cry

on the thoroughfares of the city:

4 ‘All simple ones, turn in hither,

I would speak to him who lacks wisdom.

5 Come and eat of my bread.

and drink of the wine I have mingled,

6 Abandon your folly, and live,

and walk in the way of reason.

7 Who corrects a scoffer but gets himself insult,

and a stain rests on him that reproves the wicked.

8 Reprove not a scoffer, or else he may hate you;

but a wise man reprove, and for that he will love you.

9 Give to a wise man, and he will grow wiser;

instruct the righteous, and more he will learn.

10 The fear of the Lord is the first step to wisdom,

and to know the Holy One is understanding.

11 For by me your days will be many,

and the years of your life increased.’

12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;

And if you scoff, you must bear it alone.

The Invitation of Folly

13 Dame Folly is loud and seductive,

she is a stranger to shame.

14 At the door of her house she sits,

on the thoroughfares of the city,

15 calling to passers-by,

who are going straight on their way:

16 ‘All simple ones, turn in hither,

I would speak to him who lacks wisdom.

17 Stolen waters are sweet,

and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.’

18 But he does not know that dead men are there,

that her guests lie sunken in Sheol.

Warnings

Against Suretyship

6 My son if you have gone bail for your neighbour,

and given your pledge for another;

2 if by your own lips you are snared,

and are trapped by the words of your mouth:

3 then this do, my son, and free yourself,

since you have come into his power.

Go, stir youself, besiege your neighbour;

4 give no sleep to your eyes.

nor slumber to your eyelids,

5 shake yourself free, like a roe, from the snare,

or a bird from the hand of the fowler.

Against Indolence

6 Go to the ant, you sluggard;

consider her ways, and be wise,

7 without officer, ruler, or chief,

8 she provides her bread in the summer.

and gathers her food in the harvest.

9 How long will you lie, O sluggard?

When will you rise from your sleep?

10 ‘Just a little more sleep, a little more slumber,

a little more lying with folded hands.’

11 So will poverty come on you like a robber,

and want like an armed man.

Against Underhand Mischief-making

12 Sunk in wickedness is the man

whose speech is ingrained with falsehood –

13 who winks his eyes,

or shuffles his feet,

or makes signs with his fingers,

14 gives his mind to the planning of mischief,

and always is scattering discord.

15 For these things will sudden disaster assail him;

he will swiftly be crushed beyond all hope of healing.

Seven Detestable Things

16 Six things there are which the Lord detests,

yes, seven does He abhor:

17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue,

and hands that shed innocent blood,

18 a mind that plans wicked devices,

and feet that are swift to do wrong,

19 a false witness that utters lies,

One that scatters strife among brethren.