Proverbs 9
Revised Standard Version
Wisdom’s Feast
9 Wisdom has built her house,
she has set up[a] her seven pillars.
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,[b] 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[c] 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[d] and knows no shame.[e]
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[f] are there,
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 9:1 Gk Syr Tg: Heb hewn
- 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
American Standard Version
9 Wisdom hath builded her house;
She hath hewn out her seven pillars:
2 She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine;
She hath also furnished her table:
3 She hath sent forth her maidens;
She crieth upon the highest places of the city:
4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither:
As for him that is void of understanding, she saith to him,
5 Come, eat ye of my bread,
And drink of the wine which I have mingled.
6 [a]Leave off, ye simple ones, and live;
And walk in the way of understanding.
7 He that correcteth a scoffer getteth to himself reviling;
And he that reproveth a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
8 Reprove not a scoffer, lest he hate thee:
Reprove a wise man, and he will love thee.
9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser:
Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
10 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom;
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied,
And the years of thy life shall be increased.
12 If thou art wise, thou art wise for thyself;
And if thou scoffest, thou alone shalt bear it.
13 [b]The foolish woman is clamorous;
She is [c]simple, and knoweth nothing.
14 And she sitteth at the door of her house,
On a seat in the high places of the city,
15 To call to them that pass by,
Who go right on their ways:
16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither;
And as for him that is void of understanding, she saith to him,
17 Stolen waters are sweet,
And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
18 But he knoweth not that [d]the dead are there;
That her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 9:6 Or, Forsake the simple
- Proverbs 9:13 Or, Folly
- Proverbs 9:13 Hebrew simplicity.
- Proverbs 9:18 Or, the shades. Hebrew Rephaim.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 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.
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