Proverbs 9
Jubilee Bible 2000
9 ¶ Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out her seven pillars:
2 She has killed her sacrifice; she has mingled her wine; and she has furnished her table.
3 She has sent forth her maidens; she cries upon the highest places of the city,
4 whosoever is simple, let him turn in here; as for those that lack understanding, {Heb. lacking of heart} she saith unto him,
5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
6 Forsake that which is foolish and live and go in the way of understanding.
7 He that chastens a scorner brings shame unto himself, and he that chastens a wicked man brings himself a blot.
8 Chasten not a scorner lest he hate thee; chasten a wise man, and he will love thee.
9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.
12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself; but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.
13 ¶ A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple and knows nothing.
14 For 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 the way, to those who straighten their ways;
16 Whosoever is simple, let him turn in here; and as for him that lacks understanding, she saith unto him:
17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
18 But he does not know that the dead are there and that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
Proverbs 9
English Standard Version
The Way of Wisdom
9 (A)Wisdom has built her house;
she has hewn her (B)seven (C)pillars.
2 She has (D)slaughtered her beasts; she has (E)mixed her wine;
she has also (F)set her table.
3 She has (G)sent out her young women to (H)call
from (I)the highest places in the town,
4 (J)“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
(K)To him who lacks sense she says,
5 “Come, (L)eat of my bread
and (M)drink of (N)the wine I have mixed.
6 Leave (O)your simple ways,[a] and (P)live,
(Q)and walk in the way of insight.”
7 Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse,
and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.
8 (R)Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;
(S)reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
9 Give instruction[b] to a wise man, and he will be (T)still wiser;
teach a righteous man, and he will (U)increase in learning.
10 (V)The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and (W)the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
11 For by me (X)your days will be multiplied,
and years will be added to your life.
12 (Y)If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;
if you scoff, you alone will bear it.
The Way of Folly
13 (Z)The woman Folly is (AA)loud;
she is seductive[c] and (AB)knows nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house;
she takes a seat on (AC)the highest places of the town,
15 calling to those who pass by,
who are (AD)going straight on their way,
16 (AE)“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
And to him who lacks sense she says,
17 (AF)“Stolen water is sweet,
and (AG)bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 But he does not know (AH)that the dead[d] are there,
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 9:6 Or Leave the company of the simple
- Proverbs 9:9 Hebrew lacks instruction
- Proverbs 9:13 Or full of simpleness
- Proverbs 9:18 Hebrew Rephaim
Copyright © 2013, 2020 by Ransom Press International
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
