Wisdom versus Foolishness

Wisdom has built her house;(A)
she has carved out her seven pillars.
She has prepared her meat;(B) she has mixed her wine;(C)
she has also set her table.(D)
She has sent out her female servants;(E)
she calls out from the highest points of the city:(F)
“Whoever is inexperienced, enter here!”
To the one who lacks sense,(G) she says,
“Come, eat my bread,(H)
and drink the wine I have mixed.
Leave inexperience behind, and you will live;
pursue the way of understanding.
The one who corrects a mocker
will bring dishonor on himself;
the one who rebukes a wicked man will get hurt.[a]
Don’t rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you;(I)
rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.(J)
Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still;
teach a righteous man, and he will learn more.(K)

10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,(L)
and the knowledge of the Holy One(M) is understanding.
11 For by Wisdom your days will be many,
and years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for your own benefit;(N)
if you mock, you alone will bear the consequences.”
13 The woman Folly is rowdy;(O)
she is gullible and knows nothing.(P)
14 She sits by the doorway of her house,
on a seat at the highest point of the city,
15 calling to those who pass by,
who go straight ahead on their paths:(Q)
16 “Whoever is inexperienced, enter here!”
To the one who lacks sense, she says,
17 “Stolen water is sweet,
and bread eaten secretly is tasty!”(R)
18 But he doesn’t know that the departed spirits are there,(S)
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.(T)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:7 Lit man his blemish

Wisdom’s Invitation

Wisdom[a] has built her house;
she has hewn out her seven pillars.
She has prepared her food,[b]
    she has spiced[c] her wine,
        and she also has set her dining table.
She has sent out her young women,
    while calling out from the heights of the city,
“Let whoever is naïve, turn in here.”
    To anyone lacking sense, she says,
“Come! Eat my food,
    and drink the wine that I have mixed.
Leave your naïve ways, and live.
    Walk in the path of understanding.”

Wisdom Extends Life

Whoever corrects a mocker invites only insult,[d]
    and whoever rebukes the wicked will himself become stained.
Don’t rebuke a mocker or he will hate you.
    Rebuke a wise person, and he will love you.
Counsel a wise man,
    and he will be wiser still;
teach a righteous man,
    and he will add to his learning.

10 The fear of the Lord is where wisdom begins,
    and knowing holiness[e] demonstrates understanding.
11 For because of me you will live a long life,
    and years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise,
    your wisdom will assist you.
If you mock,
    you alone will be held responsible.

Folly’s Entrapment

13 The foolish woman is loud,
    undisciplined, and without knowledge.
14 She sits at the entrance of her house,
    on a seat high above the city.
15 She calls out to those passing by on the road,
    who are minding their own business,[f]
16 “Whoever is naïve, turn in here!”
    And to anyone lacking sense, she says,
17 “Stolen waters are sweet,
    and food eaten in secret is delicious.”
18 But he does not realize that the dead lurk there,
    and her invited guests wind up in the depths of Sheol.[g]

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:1 I.e. wisdom personified as a woman
  2. Proverbs 9:2 Or meat
  3. Proverbs 9:2 Or mixed
  4. Proverbs 9:7 Lit. insult to himself
  5. Proverbs 9:10 Or knowing holy ones
  6. Proverbs 9:15 Or are going straight on their way
  7. Proverbs 9:18 I.e. the realm of the dead