Poetry

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Invitations of Wisdom and of Folly

1 Wisdom has built her house;
she has hewn out its seven pillars.
2 She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;
she has also set her table.

Wisdom has built her house; It's seven pillars she's hewn out,
With her meat and mixed wine; that's what her set table is about.

3 She has sent out her maids, and she calls
from the highest point of the city.
4 "Let all who are simple come in here!"
she says to those who lack judgment.

She has sent out her maids to call from the city's highest point,
Let all the simple who lack judgment come in so I can with wisdom anoint.

5 "Come, eat my food
and drink the wine I have mixed.
6 Leave your simple ways and you will live;
walk in the way of understanding.

Come, eat my food, and drink my mixed wine,
And you will gain new life as with me you dine.
Leave your simple ways and you will live,
For helping you walk with understanding is what I will give.

7 "Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult;
whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse.
8 Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you;
rebuke a wise man and he will love you.
Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult;
Whoever rebukes a wicked man will suffer an abusive result.
Do not rebuke a mocker or from him you will get hate,
But do rebuke a wise man, for he will you appreciate.

9 Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still;
teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.
10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Instruct a wise man and all the wiser he will be;
Teach a righteous man, and he will add more, you will see.
For he knows that in getting wisdom, the fear of the Lord is the start,
And he will take seriously getting the knowledge of the Holy One into his heart.

11 For through me your days will be many,
and years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you;
if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer."

Through me you will live longer and add years to your life;
And your wisdom will reward you with peace without strife,
But if you are a mocker, you will suffer alone,
And your loss of all reward you will perpetually moan.

13 The woman Folly is loud;
she is undisciplined and without knowledge.
14 She sits at the door of her house,
on a seat at the highest point of the city,
15 calling out to those who pass by,
who go straight on their way.

The woman folly is very loud
As she calls out to the passing crowd.
It is obvious her education is way below college,
For she is undisciplined and without knowledge.
She sits at her house by the door,
And cries out to the passing poor,
Who continually day after day,
Just go by straight on their way.


16 "Let all who are simple come in here!"
she says to those who lack judgment.
17 "Stolen water is sweet;
food eaten in secret is delicious!"
18 But little do they know that the dead are there,
that her guests are in the depths of the grave.

Her message is very simple and clear;
She says to the simple, come in here.
Stolen water is sweet and nutritious,
And food eaten in secret is delicious!
Those who listen and follow have no idea what is there,
For soon they will, with her other guests, a common grave share.

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