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Wisdom’s Invitation

Wisdom[a] has built her house;
she has hewn out her seven pillars.
She has prepared her food,[b]
    she has spiced[c] her wine,
        and she also has set her dining table.
She has sent out her young women,
    while calling out from the heights of the city,
“Let whoever is naïve, turn in here.”
    To anyone lacking sense, she says,
“Come! Eat my food,
    and drink the wine that I have mixed.
Leave your naïve ways, and live.
    Walk in the path of understanding.”

Wisdom Extends Life

Whoever corrects a mocker invites only insult,[d]
    and whoever rebukes the wicked will himself become stained.
Don’t rebuke a mocker or he will hate you.
    Rebuke a wise person, and he will love you.
Counsel a wise man,
    and he will be wiser still;
teach a righteous man,
    and he will add to his learning.

10 The fear of the Lord is where wisdom begins,
    and knowing holiness[e] demonstrates understanding.
11 For because of me you will live a long life,
    and years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise,
    your wisdom will assist you.
If you mock,
    you alone will be held responsible.

Folly’s Entrapment

13 The foolish woman is loud,
    undisciplined, and without knowledge.
14 She sits at the entrance of her house,
    on a seat high above the city.
15 She calls out to those passing by on the road,
    who are minding their own business,[f]
16 “Whoever is naïve, turn in here!”
    And to anyone lacking sense, she says,
17 “Stolen waters are sweet,
    and food eaten in secret is delicious.”
18 But he does not realize that the dead lurk there,
    and her invited guests wind up in the depths of Sheol.[g]

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:1 I.e. wisdom personified as a woman
  2. Proverbs 9:2 Or meat
  3. Proverbs 9:2 Or mixed
  4. Proverbs 9:7 Lit. insult to himself
  5. Proverbs 9:10 Or knowing holy ones
  6. Proverbs 9:15 Or are going straight on their way
  7. Proverbs 9:18 I.e. the realm of the dead

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)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:1 Septuagint, Syriac and Targum; Hebrew has hewn out
  2. Proverbs 9:11 Septuagint, Syriac and Targum; Hebrew me