One truth that is clearly established in scripture is that true wisdom is salutatory, pleasant, and does no harm. One such passage where this is established is Proverbs 9.
“Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars; She has slaughtered her meat, she has mixed her wine, she has also furnished her table. She has sent out her maidens, she cries out from the highest places of the city, ‘Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!’ As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him, ‘Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Forsake foolishness and live, and go in the way of understanding’” (1-6).
This is contrasted with foolishness. The woman who personifies foolishness, “is clamorous, she is simple, and knows nothing” (13). She does not make the same preparations as wisdom to welcome and benefit, but foolishness also wants to be heard.
Both wisdom and foolishness want the simple to turn to them. “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here” (4, 16), but while wisdom desires to enlighten, and to help, foolishness is manipulative and destructive. Consider foolishness’s words, “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant” (17).
If you want favor, listen to and be entertained by true wisdom. As for foolishness, “…her guests are in the depths of hell” (18).
