Proverbs 9
New Living Translation
9 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.[a]
Footnotes
- 9:18 Hebrew in Sheol.
Proverbs 9
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Wisdom’s Feast
9 Wisdom has built her house;
she has hewn her seven pillars.(A)
2 She has slaughtered her animals; she has mixed her wine;
she has also set her table.(B)
3 She has sent out her female servants; she calls
from the highest places in the town,(C)
4 “You who are simple, turn in here!”
To those without sense she says,(D)
5 “Come, eat of my bread
and drink of the wine I have mixed.(E)
6 Lay aside immaturity and live,
and walk in the way of insight.”(F)
General Maxims
7 Whoever corrects a scoffer wins abuse;
whoever rebukes the wicked gets hurt.(G)
8 Do not rebuke a scoffer, lest he hate you;
rebuke the wise, and he will love you.(H)
9 Give instruction[a] to the wise, and they will become wiser still;
teach the righteous, and they will gain in learning.(I)
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.(J)
11 For by me your days will be multiplied,
and years will be added to your life.(K)
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;
if you scoff, you alone will bear it.(L)
Folly’s Invitation and Promise
13 The foolish woman is loud;
she is ignorant and knows nothing.(M)
14 She sits at the door of her house,
on a seat at the high places of the town,
15 calling to those who pass by,
who are going straight on their way,
16 “You who are simple, turn in here!”
And to those without sense she says,
17 “Stolen water is sweet,
and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”(N)
18 But they do not know that the dead[b] are there,
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.(O)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.