Proverbs 9:8–18

Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;

reprove a wise man, and he will love you.

Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;

teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

For by me your days will be multiplied,

and years will be added to your life.

If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;

if you scoff, you alone will bear it.

The woman Folly is loud;

she is seductive and knows nothing.

She sits at the door of her house;

she takes a seat on the highest places of the town,

calling to those who pass by,

who are going straight on their way,

“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”

And to him who lacks sense she says,

“Stolen water is sweet,

and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”

But he does not know that the dead are there,

that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

Don’t rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you;

rebuke the wise, and he will love you.

Instruct the wise, and he will be wiser still;

teach the righteous, and he will learn more.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

For by me your days will be many,

and years will be added to your life.

If you are wise, you are wise for your own benefit;

if you mock, you alone will bear the consequences.”

Folly is a rowdy woman;

she is gullible and knows nothing.

She sits by the doorway of her house,

on a seat at the highest point of the city,

calling to those who pass by,

who go straight ahead on their paths:

“Whoever is inexperienced, enter here!”

To the one who lacks sense, she says,

“Stolen water is sweet,

and bread eaten secretly is tasty!”

But he doesn’t know that the departed spirits are there,

that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

So don’t bother correcting mockers;

they will only hate you.

But correct the wise,

and they will love you.

Instruct the wise,

and they will be even wiser.

Teach the righteous,

and they will learn even more.

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.

Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.

Wisdom will multiply your days

and add years to your life.

If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit.

If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.

The woman named Folly is brash.

She is ignorant and doesn’t know it.

She sits in her doorway

on the heights overlooking the city.

She calls out to men going by

who are minding their own business.

“Come in with me,” she urges the simple.

To those who lack good judgment, she says,

“Stolen water is refreshing;

food eaten in secret tastes the best!”

But little do they know that the dead are there.

Her guests are in the depths of the grave.

Do not rebuke a scoffer, lest he hate you;

rebuke the wise and he will love you.

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

teach a righteous one and he will increase learning.

The start of wisdom is fear of Yahweh,

and knowledge of the Holy One, insight.

For by me your days shall increase,

and years of life shall multiply for you.

If you are wise, you are wise for yourself,

and if you scoff, alone you shall bear it.

A woman of foolishness is loud,

simple, and does not know it.

She sits at the door of her house,

upon a throne at the high places of town,

in order to call to those who pass by the road,

those who go straight on their way:

“Whoever is simple, may he turn here!”

As for he who lacks sense, she says to him,

“Stolen waters are sweet,

and bread of secrecy is pleasant.”

But he does not know that the dead are there,

in the depths of Sheol are her guests.

Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee:

Rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser:

Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom:

And the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

For by me thy days shall be multiplied,

And the years of thy life shall be increased.

If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself:

But if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.

A foolish woman is clamorous:

She is simple, and knoweth nothing.

For she sitteth at the door of her house,

On a seat in the high places of the city,

To call passengers

Who go right on their ways:

Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither:

And as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

Stolen waters are sweet,

And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

But he knoweth not that the dead are there;

And that her guests are in the depths of hell.