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.