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Wisdom and Foolishness Call Out

Wisdom has (A)built her house,
She has hewn out her seven pillars;
She has [a](B)slaughtered her cattle, she has (C)mixed her wine;
She has also (D)prepared her table;
She has (E)sent out her maidens, she (F)calls
From the (G)tops of the heights of the city:
(H)Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
To him who (I)lacks a heart of wisdom she says,
“Come, (J)eat of my bread
And drink of the wine I have mixed.
[b]Forsake your simplicity and (K)live,
And (L)step into the way of understanding.”

He who (M)disciplines a scoffer receives disgrace for himself,
And he who reproves a wicked man receives injury for himself.
(N)Do not reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you,
(O)Reprove a wise man and he will love you.
Give knowledge to a wise man and he will be still wiser,
Make a righteous man know it and he will (P)increase his learning.
10 The (Q)fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For (R)by me your days will become many,
And years of life will be added to you.
12 If you are wise, you are wise (S)for yourself,
And if you (T)scoff, you alone will bear it.

13 The woman of [c]foolishness is (U)boisterous,
A woman of simplicity, and (V)does not know anything.
14 She sits at the doorway of her house,
On a seat by (W)the high places of the city,
15 To call to those who pass by that way,
Who are making their paths straight:
16 (X)Whoever is simple, let him turn in here,”
And to him who lacks a heart of wisdom she says,
17 “Stolen water is sweet;
And (Y)bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 But he does not know that the [d]dead are there,
That those she called are in the (Z)depths of Sheol.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:2 Lit slaughtered her slaughter
  2. Proverbs 9:6 Or Forsake the simple ones
  3. Proverbs 9:13 Insolent foolishness of one who fails in wisdom due to willful sin
  4. Proverbs 9:18 Lit departed spirits

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