Proverbs 9

1 Wisdom hath builded her house; She hath hewn out her seven pillars:

2 She hath killed her beasts; She hath mingled her wine; She hath also furnished her table:

3 She hath sent forth her maidens; She crieth upon the highest places of the city:

4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: As for him that is void of understanding, she saith to him,

5 Come, eat ye of my bread, And drink of the wine which I have mingled.

6 Leave off, ye simple ones, and live; And walk in the way of understanding.

7 He that correcteth a scoffer getteth to himself reviling; And he that reproveth a wicked man getteth himself a blot.

8 Reprove not a scoffer, lest he hate thee: Reprove a wise man, and he will love thee.

9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

10 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, And the years of thy life shall be increased.

12 If thou art wise, thou art wise for thyself; And if thou scoffest, thou alone shalt bear it.

13 The foolish woman is clamorous; She is simple, and knoweth nothing.

14 And she sitteth at the door of her house, On a seat in the high places of the city,

15 To call to them that pass by, Who go right on their ways:

16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither; And as for him that is void of understanding, she saith to him,

17 Stolen waters are sweet, And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; That her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

Proverbs 9

The Consequences of Accepting Wisdom or Folly

1 Wisdom has built her house;
she has carved out its seven pillars.s

2 She has prepared her meat,t she has mixed her wine;
she also has arranged her table.s

3 She has sent out her female servants;
she calls out on the highest placest of the city.

4 “Whoever is naive, let him turn in here,”
she sayst to thoset who lack understanding.t

5 “Come, eatt some of my food,
and drink some of the wine I have mixed.ts

6 Abandon your foolish wayst so that you may live,t
and proceedt in the way of understanding.”

7 Whoever correctst a mocker is asking fort insult;t
whoever reproves a wicked person receivest abuse.

8 Do not reprovet a mocker ort he will hate you;
reprove a wise person and he will love you.

9 Give instructiont to a wise person,s and he will become wiser still;
teacht a righteous person and he will add to hist learning.

10 The beginnings of wisdom is to fear the Lord,t
and acknowledgingt the Holy Onet is understanding.

11 For becauset of me your days will be many,
and years will be addedt to your life.

12 If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage,t
but if you are a mocker,t you alone mustt bear it.s

13 The woman called Follyt is brash,t
she is naivet and does not knowt anything.s

14 So she sits at the door of her house,
on a seat at the highest point of the city,

15 calling outt to those who are passing by hert in the way,t
who go straightt on their way.

16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here,”
she says to those who lack understanding.t

17 “Stolen waterss are sweet,
and food obtained in secrett is pleasant!”

18 But they do not realizet that the deads are there,
that her guests are in the depths of the grave.ss