"To call passengers who go right on their ways: Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell." Proverbs 9:15-18

The last consideration we will give to this section is the influence of a foolish person. One thing to notice right away is the target audience for a fool. Fools are trying to influence those who are going right (or upright) on their way. The people under consideration here are those who are morally upright; those who are not yet fools. You will notice that verses 4 and 16 are identical. Both wisdom and foolishness claim to offer the same thing; they both claim to give the simple understanding.

• Wisdom says: come and partake of the fruits of my labor. She is offering that which is legitimately hers to offer. She offers a lifestyle of gaining pleasures through hard work and wise living.
• Foolishness says: It is ok to partake in that which is forbidden. As a matter of fact she doesn’t just say that it is ok, she says that it will bring pleasure. “Take that which doesn’t rightfully belong to you and you will find fulfillment and joy” is the message we receive from foolishness.