Proverbs 9

Chapter 9

1 Wisdom has built her house;
she has carved its seven columns.2 She has prepared a great banquet,
mixed the wines, and set the table.3 She has sent her servants to invite everyone to come.
She calls out from the heights overlooking the city.4 “Come in with me,” she urges the simple.
To those who lack good judgment, she says,5 “Come, eat my food,
and drink the wine I have mixed.6 Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live;
learn to use good judgment.”7 Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return.
Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt.8 So don’t bother correcting mockers;
they will only hate you.
But correct the wise,
and they will love you.9 Instruct the wise,
and they will be even wiser.
Teach the righteous,
and they will learn even more.10 Fear of the LORD is the foundation of wisdom.
Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.11 Wisdom will multiply your days
and add years to your life.12 If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit.
If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.

Folly Calls for a Hearing

13 The woman named Folly is brash.
She is ignorant and doesn’t know it.14 She sits in her doorway
on the heights overlooking the city.15 She calls out to men going by
who are minding their own business.16 “Come in with me,” she urges the simple.
To those who lack good judgment, she says,17 “Stolen water is refreshing;
food eaten in secret tastes the best!”18 But little do they know that the dead are there.
Her guests are in the depths of the grave.t

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