Proverbs 9
The Way of Wisdom
1 Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her seven pillars; Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her seven pillars;2 She has slaughtered her meat, She has mixed her wine, She has also furnished her table.3 She has sent out her maidens, She cries out from the highest places of the city,4 Whoever is simple, let him turn in here! As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,5 Come, eat of my bread And drink of the wine I have mixed.6 Forsake foolishness and live, And go in the way of understanding.7 He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself.8 Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in 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 will bear it alone.
The Way of Folly
13 A foolish woman is clamorous; She is simple, and knows nothing.14 For she sits at the door of her house, On a seat by the highest places of the city,15 To call to those who pass by, Who go straight on their way:16 Whoever is simple, let him turn in here; And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,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 hell.
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