1: Lady Wisdom has built and furnished her home; it's supported by seven hewn timbers.
2: The banquet meal is ready to be served: lamb roasted, wine poured out, table set with silver and flowers.
3: Having dismissed her serving maids, Lady Wisdom goes to town, stands in a prominent place, and invites everyone within sound of her voice:
4: "Are you confused about life, don't know what's going on? Come with me, oh come, have dinner with me!
5: I've prepared a wonderful spread--fresh-baked bread, roast lamb, carefully selected wines.
6: Leave your impoverished confusion and live! Walk up the street to a life with meaning." [JC]
7: If you reason with an arrogant cynic, you'll get slapped in the face; confront bad behavior and get a kick in the shins.
8: So don't waste your time on a scoffer; all you'll get for your pains is abuse. But if you correct those who care about life, that's different--they'll love you for it!
9: Save your breath for the wise--they'll be wiser for it; tell good people what you know--they'll profit from it.
10: Skilled living gets its start in the Fear-of-GOD, insight into life from knowing a Holy God.
11: It's through me, Lady Wisdom, that your life deepens, and the years of your life ripen.
12: Live wisely and wisdom will permeate your life; mock life and life will mock you.
13: Then there's this other woman, Madame Whore--brazen, empty-headed, frivolous.
14: She sits on the front porch of her house on Main Street,
15: And as people walk by minding their own business, calls out,
16: "Are you confused about life, don't know what's going on?
17: Steal off with me, I'll show you a good time! No one will ever know--I'll give you the time of your life."
18: But they don't know about all the skeletons in her closet, that all her guests end up in hell. The Wise Sayings of Solomon An Honest Life Is Immortal