Proverbs 9

Wisdom's Invitation

1 Wisdom has built her house,
She has hewn out her seven pillars;

2 She has prepared her food, she has mixed her wine;
She has also set her table;

3 She has sent out her maidens, she calls
From the tops of the heights of the city:

4 "Whoever is naive, let him turn in here!"
To him who lacks understanding she says,

5 "Come, eat of my food
And drink of the wine I have mixed.

6 "Forsake your folly and live,
And proceed in the way of understanding."

7 He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself,
And he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself.

8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you,
Reprove a wise man and he will love you.

9 Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser,
Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.

10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

11 For by me your days will be multiplied,
And years of life will be added to you.

12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself,
And if you scoff, you alone will bear it.

13 The woman of folly is boisterous,
She is naive and knows nothing.

14 She sits at the doorway of her house,
On a seat by the high places of the city,

15 Calling to those who pass by,
Who are making their paths straight:

16 "Whoever is naive, let him turn in here,"
And to him who lacks understanding she says,

17 "Stolen water is sweet;
And bread eaten in secret is pleasant."

18 But he does not know that the dead are there,
That her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

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.