Proverbs 9:5-16

⁵Come, eat of my bread, and drink wine which I have mingled for you.

⁶Leave folly, that you° may reign for ever; and seek wisdom, and improve understanding by knowledge.

⁷He that reproves evil men shall get dishonour to himself; and he that rebukes an ungodly man shall disgrace himself.

⁸Rebuke not evil men, lest they should hate you: rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.

⁹Give an opportunity to a wise man, and he will be wiser: instruct a just man, and he will receive more instruction.

¹⁰The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the counsel of saints is understanding: for to know the law is the character of a sound mind.

¹¹For in this way you shall live long, and years of your life shall be added to you.

¹²Son, if you be wise for yourself, you shall also be wise for your neighbours; and if you should prove wicked, you alone will bear the evil. He that stays himself upon falsehoods, attempts to rule the winds, and the same will pursue birds in their fight: for he has forsaken the ways of his own vineyard, and he has caused the axles of his own husbandry to go astray; and he goes through a dry desert, and a land appointed to drought, and he gathers barrenness with his hands.

¹³A foolish and bold woman, who knows not modesty, comes to lack a morsel.

¹⁴She sits at the doors of her house, on a seat openly in the streets,

¹⁵calling to passers by, and to those that are going right on their ways;

¹⁶saying, Whoso is most senseless of you, let him turn aside to me; and I exhort those that lack prudence, saying,