Proverbs 9:2-18
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
2 She has slaughtered her beasts, she has mixed her wine,
she has also set her table.
3 She has sent out her maids to call
from the highest places in the town,
4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
To him who is without sense she says,
5 “Come, eat of my bread
and drink of the wine I have mixed.
6 Leave simpleness,[a] and live,
and walk in the way of insight.”
General Maxims
7 He who corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse,
and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.
8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;
reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
9 Give instruction[b] to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
teach a righteous 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 insight.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied,
and years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;
if you scoff, you alone will bear it.
Folly’s Invitation and Promise
13 A foolish woman is noisy;
she is wanton[c] and knows no shame.[d]
14 She sits at the door of her house,
she takes a seat on the high places of the town,
15 calling to those who pass by,
who are going straight on their way,
16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
And to him who is without sense she says,
17 “Stolen water is sweet,
and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 But he does not know that the dead[e] are there,
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 9:6 Gk Syr Vg Tg: Heb simple ones
- Proverbs 9:9 Heb lacks instruction
- Proverbs 9:13 Cn Compare Syr Vg: The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
- Proverbs 9:13 Gk Syr: The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
- Proverbs 9:18 Heb shades
Proverbs 9:2-18
New King James Version
2 (A)She has slaughtered her meat,
(B)She has mixed her wine,
She has also [a]furnished her table.
3 She has sent out her maidens,
She cries out from the highest places of the city,
4 “Whoever(C) is simple, let him turn in here!”
As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
5 “Come,(D) 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 (E)Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you;
(F)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, (G)and he will increase in learning.
10 “The(H) fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 (I)For by me your days will be multiplied,
And years of life will be added to you.
12 (J)If you are wise, you are wise for yourself,
And if you scoff, you will bear it alone.”
The Way of Folly
13 (K)A foolish woman is [b]clamorous;
She is simple, and knows nothing.
14 For she sits at the door of her house,
On a seat (L)by the highest places of the city,
15 To call to those who pass by,
Who go straight on their way:
16 “Whoever(M) is [c]simple, let him turn in here”;
And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
17 “Stolen(N) water is sweet,
And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 But he does not know that (O)the dead are there,
That her guests are in the depths of [d]hell.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 9:2 arranged
- Proverbs 9:13 boisterous
- Proverbs 9:16 naive
- Proverbs 9:18 Or Sheol
The Revised Standard Version of the Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1965, 1966 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
