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Proverbs 9 (CEV)

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¹ Wisdom has built her house with its seven columns. ² She has prepared the meat and set out the wine. Her feast is ready. ³ She has sent her servant women to announce her invitation from the highest hills: ⁴ "Everyone who is ignorant or foolish is invited! ⁵ All of you are welcome to my meat and wine. ⁶ If you want to live, give up your foolishness and let understanding guide your steps." ⁷ Correct a worthless bragger, and all you will get are insults and injuries. ⁸ Any bragger you correct will only hate you. But if you correct someone who has common sense, you will be loved. ⁹ If you have good sense, instruction will help you to have even better sense. And if you live right, education will help you to know even more. ¹⁰ Respect and obey the LORD! This is the beginning of wisdom. To have understanding, you must know the Holy God. ¹¹ I am Wisdom. If you follow me, you will live a long time. ¹² Good sense is good for you, but if you brag, you hurt yourself. ¹³ Stupidity is reckless, senseless, and foolish. ¹⁴ She sits in front of her house and on the highest hills in the town. ¹⁵ She shouts to everyone who passes by, ¹⁶ "If you are stupid, come on inside!" And to every fool she says, ¹⁷ "Stolen water tastes best, and the food you eat in secret tastes best of all." ¹⁸ None who listen to Stupidity understand that her guests are as good as dead.