Proverbs 9

Wisdom’s Banquet

9Wisdom has built her house;

she has hewn her seven pillars.

²She has slaughtered her slaughtering, mixed her wine,

and also set her table.

³She 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.

⁶Lay aside simplicity and live;

walk in the way of understanding.”

⁷He who corrects a scoffer gains abuse for himself,

and he who rebukes the wicked gets hurt.^c

⁸Do not rebuke a scoffer, lest he hate you;

rebuke the wise and he will love you.

⁹Give to a wise one and he will become more wise;

teach^d a righteous one and he will increase learning.

Foolishness’ Banquet

¹⁰The start of wisdom is fear of Yahweh,

and knowledge of the Holy One,^e insight.

¹¹For by me your days shall increase,

and years of life shall multiply for you.

¹²If you are wise, you are wise for yourself,

and if you scoff, alone you shall bear it.

¹³A woman of foolishness is loud,

simple, and does not know it.^f

¹⁴She sits at the door of her house,

upon a throne at the high places of town,

¹⁵in 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.”

¹⁸But he does not know that the dead^h are there,

in the depths of Sheolⁱ are her guests.