Wisdom’s Invitation

Wisdom has (A)built her house,
She has carved out her seven pillars;
She has [a](B)prepared her food, she has (C)mixed her wine;
She has also (D)set her table;
She has (E)sent out her attendants, she (F)calls out
From the (G)tops of the heights of the city:
(H)Whoever is naive, let him turn in here!”
To him who (I)lacks [b]understanding she says,
“Come, (J)eat of my food
And drink of the wine I have mixed.
[c]Abandon your foolishness and (K)live,
And (L)proceed in the way of understanding.”

One who (M)corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself,
And one who rebukes a wicked person gets [d]insults for himself.
(N)Do not rebuke a scoffer, or he will hate you;
(O)Rebuke a wise person and he will love you.
Give instruction to a wise person and he will become still wiser;
Teach a righteous person and he will (P)increase his insight.
10 The (Q)fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For (R)by me your days will be multiplied,
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 [e]suffer from it.

13 [f]A woman of foolishness is (U)boisterous,
She has a lack of understanding and (V)knows nothing.
14 She sits at the doorway of her house,
On a seat by (W)the high places of the city,
15 Calling to those who pass by,
Who are going straight on their paths:
16 (X)Whoever is naive, let him turn in here,”
And to him who lacks [g]understanding she says,
17 “Stolen water is sweet;
And (Y)bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 But he does not know that the [h]dead are there,
That her guests are in the (Z)depths of Sheol.

Contrast of the Righteous and the Wicked

10 The (AA)proverbs of Solomon.

(AB)A wise son makes a father glad,
But (AC)a foolish son is a grief to his mother.
[i](AD)Ill-gotten gains do not benefit,
But righteousness rescues from death.
The Lord (AE)will not allow the [j]righteous to hunger,
But He (AF)will [k]reject the craving of the wicked.
Poor is one who works with [l]a lazy hand,
But the (AG)hand of the diligent makes rich.
He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely,
But he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully.
(AH)Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
But (AI)the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
The (AJ)mentioning of the righteous is a blessing,
But (AK)the name of the wicked will rot.
The (AL)wise of heart will receive commands,
But [m]a babbling fool will come to ruin.
One (AM)who walks in integrity walks securely,
But (AN)one who perverts his ways will be found out.
10 He (AO)who winks the eye causes trouble,
And [n](AP)a babbling fool will come to ruin.
11 The (AQ)mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
But (AR)the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
12 Hatred stirs up strife,
But (AS)love covers all offenses.
13 On (AT)the lips of the discerning, wisdom is found,
But (AU)a rod is for the back of him who has no [o]sense.
14 Wise people (AV)store up knowledge,
But with (AW)the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand.
15 The (AX)rich person’s wealth is his [p]fortress,
The (AY)ruin of the poor is their poverty.
16 The [q](AZ)wages of the righteous is life,
The income of the wicked, punishment.
17 One who (BA)is on the path of life follows instruction,
But one who ignores a rebuke goes astray.
18 One (BB)who conceals hatred has lying lips,
And one who spreads slander is a fool.
19 When there are (BC)many words, wrongdoing is unavoidable,
But (BD)one who restrains his lips is wise.
20 The tongue of the righteous is like (BE)choice silver,
The heart of the wicked is worth little.
21 The (BF)lips of the righteous feed many,
But fools (BG)die for lack of [r]understanding.
22 It is the (BH)blessing of the Lord that makes rich,
And He adds no sorrow to it.
23 Doing wickedness is like (BI)sport to a fool,
And so is wisdom to a person of understanding.
24 What (BJ)the wicked fears will come upon him,
But the (BK)desire of the righteous will be granted.
25 When the (BL)whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more,
But the (BM)righteous has an everlasting foundation.
26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
So is the [s](BN)lazy one to those who send him.
27 The (BO)fear of the Lord prolongs [t]life,
But the (BP)years of the wicked will be shortened.
28 The (BQ)hope of the righteous is gladness,
But the (BR)expectation of the wicked perishes.
29 The (BS)way of the Lord is a stronghold for the upright,
But (BT)ruin to the workers of injustice.
30 The (BU)righteous will never be shaken,
But (BV)the wicked will not live in the land.
31 The (BW)mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom,
But the (BX)perverted tongue will be cut out.
32 The lips of the righteous know (BY)what is acceptable,
But the (BZ)mouth of the wicked, what is perverted.

Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked

11 A (CA)false balance is an abomination to the Lord,
But a (CB)just weight is His delight.
When (CC)pride comes, then comes dishonor;
But with the humble there is wisdom.
The (CD)integrity of the upright will guide them,
But the (CE)perversity of the treacherous will destroy them.
(CF)Riches do not benefit on the day of wrath,
But (CG)righteousness rescues from death.
The (CH)righteousness of the blameless will smooth his way,
But (CI)the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.
The righteousness of the upright will rescue them,
But the treacherous will (CJ)be caught by their own greed.
When a wicked person dies, his (CK)expectation will perish,
And the (CL)hope of strong people perishes.
The righteous is rescued from trouble,
But the wicked [u]takes his place.
With his (CM)mouth the godless person destroys his neighbor,
But through knowledge the (CN)righteous will be rescued.
10 When things (CO)go well for the righteous, the city rejoices,
And when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting.
11 By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
But by the mouth of the wicked, it is torn down.
12 One who despises his neighbor lacks [v]sense,
But a person of understanding keeps silent.
13 One (CP)who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets,
But one who is [w]trustworthy (CQ)conceals a matter.
14 Where there is no (CR)guidance the people fall,
But in an abundance of counselors there is [x]victory.
15 One who is a (CS)guarantor for a stranger will certainly suffer for it,
But one who hates [y]being a guarantor is secure.
16 A (CT)gracious woman attains honor,
And ruthless men attain riches.
17 A (CU)merciful person does [z]himself good,
But the cruel person [aa]does himself harm.
18 A wicked person earns deceptive wages,
But one who (CV)sows righteousness gets a true reward.
19 One who is steadfast in (CW)righteousness attains life,
But (CX)one who pursues evil attains his own death.
20 The perverse in heart are an abomination to the Lord,
But the (CY)blameless in their [ab]walk are His (CZ)delight.
21 [ac]Be assured, the evil person will not go unpunished,
But the [ad]descendants of the righteous will be rescued.
22 As a (DA)ring of gold in a pig’s snout
So is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good,
But the (DB)expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more,
And there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in poverty.
25 A [ae](DC)generous person will be [af]prosperous,
And one who (DD)gives others plenty of water will himself be given plenty.
26 One who withholds grain, the (DE)people will curse him,
But (DF)blessing will be on the head of him who (DG)sells it.
27 One who diligently seeks good seeks favor,
But (DH)one who seeks evil, evil will come to him.
28 One who (DI)trusts in his riches will fall,
But (DJ)the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.
29 One who (DK)troubles his own house will (DL)inherit wind,
And (DM)the foolish will be servant to the wise-hearted.
30 The fruit of the righteous is (DN)a tree of life,
And (DO)one who is wise [ag]gains souls.
31 If (DP)the righteous will be repaid on the earth,
How much more the wicked and the sinner!

Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked

12 One who loves [ah]discipline loves knowledge,
But one who hates rebuke is stupid.
A (DQ)good person will obtain favor from the Lord,
But He will condemn a person [ai]who devises evil.
A person will (DR)not be established by wickedness,
But the root of the (DS)righteous will not be moved.
An [aj](DT)excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
But she who shames him is like (DU)rottenness in his bones.
The thoughts of the righteous are just,
But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
The (DV)words of the wicked wait in ambush for blood,
But the (DW)mouth of the upright will rescue them.
The (DX)wicked are overthrown and are no more,
But the (DY)house of the righteous will stand.
A person will be praised according to his insight,
But one of perverse [ak]mind will be despised.
Better is one who is lightly esteemed and has a servant,
Than one who honors himself and lacks bread.
10 A (DZ)righteous person has regard for the life of his animal,
But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.
11 One (EA)who works his land will have plenty of bread,
But one who pursues worthless things lacks [al]sense.
12 The (EB)wicked person desires the [am]plunder of evil people,
But the root of the righteous (EC)yields fruit.
13 [an]An evil person is ensnared by the offense of his lips,
But the (ED)righteous will escape from trouble.
14 A person will be (EE)satisfied with good by the fruit of his [ao]words,
And the (EF)deeds of a person’s hands will return to him.
15 The (EG)way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
But a person who listens to advice is wise.
16 A (EH)fool’s anger is known at once,
But a prudent person conceals dishonor.
17 One who declares truth tells what is right,
But a false witness, deceit.
18 There is one who (EI)speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword,
But the (EJ)tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 Truthful lips will endure forever,
But a (EK)lying tongue is only for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
But counselors of peace have joy.
21 (EL)No harm happens to the righteous,
But the wicked are filled with trouble.
22 (EM)Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
But those who deal faithfully are His delight.
23 A (EN)prudent person conceals knowledge,
But the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.
24 The hand of the diligent will rule,
But the [ap]lazy hand will be (EO)put to forced labor.
25 (EP)Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs it down,
But a (EQ)good word makes it glad.
26 The righteous person is a guide to his neighbor,
But the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27 [aq]A lazy person does not [ar]roast his prey,
But the (ER)precious possession of a person is diligence.
28 (ES)In the way of righteousness there is life,
And in its pathway there is no death.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:2 Lit slaughtered her slaughter
  2. Proverbs 9:4 Lit heart
  3. Proverbs 9:6 Or Abandon the naive
  4. Proverbs 9:7 Lit a blemish
  5. Proverbs 9:12 Lit bear
  6. Proverbs 9:13 Or A foolish woman
  7. Proverbs 9:16 Lit heart
  8. Proverbs 9:18 Lit departed spirits
  9. Proverbs 10:2 Lit Treasures of wickedness
  10. Proverbs 10:3 Lit soul of the righteous
  11. Proverbs 10:3 Lit thrust away
  12. Proverbs 10:4 Lit an idle hand
  13. Proverbs 10:8 Lit the foolish of lips
  14. Proverbs 10:10 Lit the foolish of lips
  15. Proverbs 10:13 Lit heart
  16. Proverbs 10:15 Lit strong city
  17. Proverbs 10:16 Or work
  18. Proverbs 10:21 Lit heart
  19. Proverbs 10:26 Lit idle one
  20. Proverbs 10:27 Lit days
  21. Proverbs 11:8 Lit enters
  22. Proverbs 11:12 Lit heart
  23. Proverbs 11:13 Lit faithful of spirit
  24. Proverbs 11:14 Lit deliverance
  25. Proverbs 11:15 Lit those who strike hands
  26. Proverbs 11:17 Lit his soul
  27. Proverbs 11:17 Lit ruins his flesh
  28. Proverbs 11:20 Lit way
  29. Proverbs 11:21 Lit Hand to hand
  30. Proverbs 11:21 Lit seed
  31. Proverbs 11:25 Lit soul of blessing
  32. Proverbs 11:25 Lit made fat
  33. Proverbs 11:30 Lit takes
  34. Proverbs 12:1 Or instruction
  35. Proverbs 12:2 Lit of evil devices
  36. Proverbs 12:4 Or virtuous
  37. Proverbs 12:8 Lit heart
  38. Proverbs 12:11 Lit heart
  39. Proverbs 12:12 Lit net (for trapping prey); another reading is mountain stronghold
  40. Proverbs 12:13 Lit In the offense of the lips is an evil snare
  41. Proverbs 12:14 Lit mouth
  42. Proverbs 12:24 Lit idle
  43. Proverbs 12:27 Lit An indolent
  44. Proverbs 12:27 Or catch

Invitations of Wisdom and Folly

Wisdom has built(A) her house;
    she has set up[a] its seven pillars.
She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;(B)
    she has also set her table.(C)
She has sent out her servants, and she calls(D)
    from the highest point of the city,(E)
    “Let all who are simple(F) come to my house!”
To those who have no sense(G) she says,
    “Come,(H) eat my food
    and drink the wine I have mixed.(I)
Leave your simple ways and you will live;(J)
    walk in the way of insight.”(K)

Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults;
    whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.(L)
Do not rebuke mockers(M) or they will hate you;
    rebuke the wise and they will love you.(N)
Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;
    teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.(O)

10 The fear of the Lord(P) is the beginning of wisdom,
    and knowledge of the Holy One(Q) is understanding.(R)
11 For through wisdom[b] your days will be many,
    and years will be added to your life.(S)
12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you;
    if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.

13 Folly is an unruly woman;(T)
    she is simple and knows nothing.(U)
14 She sits at the door of her house,
    on a seat at the highest point of the city,(V)
15 calling out(W) to those who pass by,
    who go straight on their way,
16     “Let all who are simple come to my house!”
To those who have no sense(X) she says,
17     “Stolen water is sweet;
    food eaten in secret is delicious!(Y)
18 But little do they know that the dead are there,
    that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.(Z)

Proverbs of Solomon

10 The proverbs(AA) of Solomon:(AB)

A wise son brings joy to his father,(AC)
    but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value,(AD)
    but righteousness delivers from death.(AE)

The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry,(AF)
    but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.(AG)

Lazy hands make for poverty,(AH)
    but diligent hands bring wealth.(AI)

He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son,
    but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.(AJ)

Blessings crown the head of the righteous,
    but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.[c](AK)

The name of the righteous(AL) is used in blessings,[d]
    but the name of the wicked(AM) will rot.(AN)

The wise in heart accept commands,
    but a chattering fool comes to ruin.(AO)

Whoever walks in integrity(AP) walks securely,(AQ)
    but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.(AR)

10 Whoever winks maliciously(AS) causes grief,
    and a chattering fool comes to ruin.

11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,(AT)
    but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.(AU)

12 Hatred stirs up conflict,
    but love covers over all wrongs.(AV)

13 Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,(AW)
    but a rod is for the back of one who has no sense.(AX)

14 The wise store up knowledge,(AY)
    but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.(AZ)

15 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city,(BA)
    but poverty is the ruin of the poor.(BB)

16 The wages of the righteous is life,(BC)
    but the earnings of the wicked are sin and death.(BD)

17 Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,(BE)
    but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

18 Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips(BF)
    and spreads slander is a fool.

19 Sin is not ended by multiplying words,
    but the prudent hold their tongues.(BG)

20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver,
    but the heart of the wicked is of little value.

21 The lips of the righteous nourish many,
    but fools die for lack of sense.(BH)

22 The blessing of the Lord(BI) brings wealth,(BJ)
    without painful toil for it.(BK)

23 A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes,(BL)
    but a person of understanding delights in wisdom.

24 What the wicked dread(BM) will overtake them;(BN)
    what the righteous desire will be granted.(BO)

25 When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone,
    but the righteous stand firm(BP) forever.(BQ)

26 As vinegar to the teeth and smoke(BR) to the eyes,
    so are sluggards to those who send them.(BS)

27 The fear of the Lord adds length to life,(BT)
    but the years of the wicked are cut short.(BU)

28 The prospect of the righteous is joy,
    but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.(BV)

29 The way of the Lord is a refuge for the blameless,
    but it is the ruin of those who do evil.(BW)

30 The righteous will never be uprooted,
    but the wicked will not remain in the land.(BX)

31 From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom,(BY)
    but a perverse tongue(BZ) will be silenced.

32 The lips of the righteous know what finds favor,(CA)
    but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.(CB)

11 The Lord detests dishonest scales,(CC)
    but accurate weights find favor with him.(CD)

When pride comes, then comes disgrace,(CE)
    but with humility comes wisdom.(CF)

The integrity of the upright guides them,
    but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.(CG)

Wealth(CH) is worthless in the day of wrath,(CI)
    but righteousness delivers from death.(CJ)

The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight,(CK)
    but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.(CL)

The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
    but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.(CM)

Hopes placed in mortals die with them;(CN)
    all the promise of[e] their power comes to nothing.(CO)

The righteous person is rescued from trouble,
    and it falls on the wicked instead.(CP)

With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors,
    but through knowledge the righteous escape.(CQ)

10 When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices;(CR)
    when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.(CS)

11 Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,(CT)
    but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.(CU)

12 Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense,(CV)
    but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.(CW)

13 A gossip betrays a confidence,(CX)
    but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.(CY)

14 For lack of guidance a nation falls,(CZ)
    but victory is won through many advisers.(DA)

15 Whoever puts up security(DB) for a stranger will surely suffer,
    but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.(DC)

16 A kindhearted woman gains honor,(DD)
    but ruthless men gain only wealth.

17 Those who are kind benefit themselves,
    but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.

18 A wicked person earns deceptive wages,
    but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.(DE)

19 Truly the righteous attain life,(DF)
    but whoever pursues evil finds death.(DG)

20 The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse,(DH)
    but he delights(DI) in those whose ways are blameless.(DJ)

21 Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished,
    but those who are righteous will go free.(DK)

22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
    is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.

23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
    but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.

24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
    another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

25 A generous(DL) person will prosper;
    whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.(DM)

26 People curse the one who hoards grain,
    but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.

27 Whoever seeks good finds favor,
    but evil comes to one who searches for it.(DN)

28 Those who trust in their riches will fall,(DO)
    but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.(DP)

29 Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise.(DQ)

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,(DR)
    and the one who is wise saves lives.

31 If the righteous receive their due(DS) on earth,
    how much more the ungodly and the sinner!

12 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
    but whoever hates correction is stupid.(DT)

Good people obtain favor from the Lord,(DU)
    but he condemns those who devise wicked schemes.(DV)

No one can be established through wickedness,
    but the righteous cannot be uprooted.(DW)

A wife of noble character(DX) is her husband’s crown,
    but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.(DY)

The plans of the righteous are just,
    but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.

The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
    but the speech of the upright rescues them.(DZ)

The wicked are overthrown and are no more,(EA)
    but the house of the righteous stands firm.(EB)

A person is praised according to their prudence,
    and one with a warped(EC) mind is despised.

Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant
    than pretend to be somebody and have no food.

10 The righteous care for the needs of their animals,(ED)
    but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.

11 Those who work their land will have abundant food,
    but those who chase fantasies have no sense.(EE)

12 The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers,
    but the root of the righteous endures.

13 Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk,(EF)
    and so the innocent escape trouble.(EG)

14 From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things,(EH)
    and the work of their hands brings them reward.(EI)

15 The way of fools seems right to them,(EJ)
    but the wise listen to advice.(EK)

16 Fools(EL) show their annoyance at once,(EM)
    but the prudent overlook an insult.(EN)

17 An honest witness tells the truth,
    but a false witness tells lies.(EO)

18 The words of the reckless pierce like swords,(EP)
    but the tongue of the wise brings healing.(EQ)

19 Truthful lips endure forever,
    but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.

20 Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil,
    but those who promote peace have joy.(ER)

21 No harm overtakes the righteous,(ES)
    but the wicked have their fill of trouble.

22 The Lord detests lying lips,(ET)
    but he delights(EU) in people who are trustworthy.(EV)

23 The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves,(EW)
    but a fool’s heart blurts out folly.(EX)

24 Diligent hands will rule,
    but laziness ends in forced labor.(EY)

25 Anxiety weighs down the heart,(EZ)
    but a kind word cheers it up.

26 The righteous choose their friends carefully,
    but the way of the wicked leads them astray.(FA)

27 The lazy do not roast[f] any game,
    but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.

28 In the way of righteousness there is life;(FB)
    along that path is immortality.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:1 Septuagint, Syriac and Targum; Hebrew has hewn out
  2. Proverbs 9:11 Septuagint, Syriac and Targum; Hebrew me
  3. Proverbs 10:6 Or righteous, / but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence
  4. Proverbs 10:7 See Gen. 48:20.
  5. Proverbs 11:7 Two Hebrew manuscripts; most Hebrew manuscripts, Vulgate, Syriac and Targum When the wicked die, their hope perishes; / all they expected from
  6. Proverbs 12:27 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.