Proverbs 9:1-10

New International Version

Invitations of Wisdom and Folly

9 Wisdom has built^(A) her house;
    she has set up^[a] its seven pillars.
²She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;^(B)
    she has also set her table.^(C)
³She has sent out her servants, and she calls^(D)
    from the highest point of the city,^(E)
⁴    “Let all who are simple^(F) come to my house!”
To those who have no sense^(G) she says,
⁵    “Come,^(H) eat my food
    and drink the wine I have mixed.^(I)
⁶Leave your simple ways and you will live;^(J)
    walk in the way of insight.”^(K)

⁷Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults;
    whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.^(L)
⁸Do not rebuke mockers^(M) or they will hate you;
    rebuke the wise and they will love you.^(N)
⁹Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;
    teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.^(O)

¹⁰The fear of the Lord^(P) is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One^(Q) is understanding.^(R)

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Footnotes

Proverbs 9:1 Septuagint, Syriac and Targum; Hebrew has hewn out

Ephesians 2:13-22

New International Version

¹³But now in Christ Jesus you who once^(A) were far away have been brought near^(B) by the blood of Christ.^(C)

¹⁴For he himself is our peace,^(D) who has made the two groups one^(E) and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, ¹⁵by setting aside in his flesh^(F) the law with its commands and regulations.^(G) His purpose was to create in himself one^(H) new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross,^(I) by which he put to death their hostility. ¹⁷He came and preached peace^(J) to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.^(K) ¹⁸For through him we both have access^(L) to the Father^(M) by one Spirit.^(N)

¹⁹Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers,^(O) but fellow citizens^(P) with God’s people and also members of his household,^(Q) ²⁰built^(R) on the foundation^(S) of the apostles and prophets,^(T) with Christ Jesus himself^(U) as the chief cornerstone.^(V) ²¹In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple^(W) in the Lord. ²²And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.^(X)

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Luke 14:15-24

New International Version

The Parable of the Great Banquet^(A)

¹⁵When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast^(B) in the kingdom of God.”^(C)

¹⁶Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. ¹⁷At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

¹⁸“But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’

¹⁹“Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’

²⁰“Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

²¹“The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’^(D)

²²“‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’

²³“Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. ²⁴I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”^(E)

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