Proverbs 9
Easy-to-Read Version
Wisdom’s Invitation
9 Wisdom has built her house; she has made it strong with seven columns.[a] 2 She has cooked meat, mixed wine, and put food on the table. 3 She has sent her servant girls to announce from the highest hill in the city,[b] 4 “Whoever needs instruction, come.” She invites all the simple people and says, 5 “Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have prepared. 6 Leave your old, foolish ways and live! Advance along the path of understanding.”
7 Criticize a person who is rude and shows no respect, and you will only get insults. Correct the wicked, and you will only get hurt. 8 Don’t correct such people, or they will hate you. But correct those who are wise, and they will love you. 9 Teach the wise, and they will become wiser. Instruct those who live right, and they will gain more knowledge.
10 Wisdom begins with fear and respect for the Lord. Knowledge of the Holy One leads to understanding. 11 Wisdom will help you live longer; she will add years to your life. 12 If you become wise, it will be for your own good. If you are rude and show no respect, you are the one who will suffer.
Foolishness—the Other Woman
13 Foolishness is that other woman, who is loud, stupid, and knows nothing. 14 She sits on her chair at the door of her house, up on the highest hill of the city. 15 When people walk by, she calls out to them. They show no interest in her, but still she says, 16 “Whoever needs instruction, come.” She invites all the simple people and says, 17 “Stolen water is sweet. Stolen bread tastes good.” 18 Those simple people don’t realize that her house is full of ghosts and that her guests have entered the world of the dead.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 9:1 seven columns In ancient Israel, a good house was one that had four main rooms with seven columns to support the roof.
- Proverbs 9:3 Or “She has sent out her servant girls and invited people to come to the highest hill in the city to eat with her.”
箴言 9
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
智慧和愚昧
9 智慧建造她的房屋，
凿出七根柱子。
2 她宰了牲口，
调了美酒，
设了宴席，
3 派婢女出去邀请宾客，
自己在城中高处呼喊：
4 “愚昧人啊，到这里来吧！”
她又对无知者说：
5 “来吃我做的饭，
尝尝我调的酒吧！
6 你们要抛弃愚昧，就能存活，
要转向悟性之道。”
7 纠正嘲讽者，必自招羞辱；
责备恶人，必自招伤害。
8 不要责备嘲讽者，免得他恨你；
要责备智者，他必爱你。
9 教导智者，他就更有智慧；
指教义人，他就更有见识。
10 智慧始于敬畏耶和华，
认识至圣者便是明智。
11 智慧可增添你的年日，
加添你的寿数。
12 人有智慧，自得益处；
人好嘲讽，自食恶果。
13 愚昧的女人喧嚷，蒙昧，无知。
14 她坐在自己的家门口，
坐在城中高处的座位上，
15 招呼着行色匆匆的过客：
16 “愚昧人啊，到这里来吧！”
她又对无知者说：
17 “偷喝的水甜，偷吃的饼香。”
18 他们却不知她那里鬼影憧憧，
她的客人已落在阴间的深处。
Proverbs 9
World English Bible
9 Wisdom has built her house.
She has carved out her seven pillars.
2 She has prepared her meat.
She has mixed her wine.
She has also set her table.
3 She has sent out her maidens.
She cries from the highest places of the city:
4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
5 “Come, eat some of my bread,
Drink some of the wine which I have mixed!
6 Leave your simple ways, and live.
Walk in the way of understanding.”
7 One who corrects a mocker invites insult.
One who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.
8 Don’t reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you.
Reprove a wise person, and he will love you.
9 Instruct a wise person, and he will be still wiser.
Teach a righteous person, and he will increase in learning.
10 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom.
The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied.
The years of your life will be increased.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself.
If you mock, you alone will bear it.
13 The foolish woman is loud,
undisciplined, and knows nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house,
on a seat in the high places of the city,
15 to call to those who pass by,
who go straight on their ways,
16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here.”
As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
17 “Stolen water is sweet.
Food eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 But he doesn’t know that the departed spirits are there,
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.[a]
Footnotes
- 9:18 Sheol is the place of the dead.
Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International
Chinese Contemporary Bible Copyright © 1979, 2005, 2007, 2011 by Biblica® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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