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.
Proverbs 9
Lexham English Bible
Wisdom’s Banquet
9 Wisdom has built her house;
she has hewn her seven pillars.
2 She has slaughtered her slaughtering, mixed her wine,
and also set her table.
3 She has sent her servant girls,[a] she calls
upon the wings of the high places of town,
4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn here.”
As for the one who lacks sense,[b] she says to him,
5 “Come, eat with my bread;
drink with the wine I have mixed.
6 Lay aside simplicity and live;
walk in the way of understanding.”
7 He who corrects a scoffer gains abuse for himself,
and he who rebukes the wicked gets hurt.[c]
8 Do not rebuke a scoffer, lest he hate you;
rebuke the wise and he will love you.
9 Give to a wise one and he will become more wise;
teach[d] a righteous one and he will increase learning.
Foolishness’ Banquet
10 The start of wisdom is fear of Yahweh,
and knowledge of the Holy One,[e] insight.
11 For by me your days shall increase,
and years of life shall multiply for you.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself,
and if you scoff, alone you shall bear it.
13 A woman of foolishness is loud,
simple, and does not know it.[f]
14 She sits at the door of her house,
upon a throne at the high places of town,
15 in order to call to those who pass by the road,
those who go straight on their way:
16 “Whoever is simple, may he turn here!”
As for he who lacks sense,[g] she says to him,
17 “Stolen waters are sweet,
and bread of secrecy is pleasant.”
18 But he does not know that the dead[h] are there,
in the depths of Sheol[i] are her guests.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 9:3 Or “young maidens”
- Proverbs 9:4 Literally “heart”
- Proverbs 9:7 Literally “abuse him”
- Proverbs 9:9 Literally “make known to”
- Proverbs 9:10 Or “holy ones”
- Proverbs 9:13 Literally “what”
- Proverbs 9:16 Literally “heart”
- Proverbs 9:18 Or “Rephaim”
- Proverbs 9:18 A term for the place where the dead reside, i.e., the Underworld
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