Proverbs 9

Wisdom’s Feast

⁹Wisdom has built her house;

she has hewn her seven pillars.^*

²She has slaughtered her animals; she has mixed her wine;

she has also set her table.^*

³She has sent out her female servants; she calls

from the highest places in the town,^*

⁴“You who are simple, turn in here!”

To those without sense she says,^*

⁵“Come, eat of my bread

and drink of the wine I have mixed.^*

⁶Lay aside immaturity and live,

and walk in the way of insight.”^*

General Maxims

⁷Whoever corrects a scoffer wins abuse;

whoever rebukes the wicked gets hurt.^*

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

rebuke the wise, and he will love you.^*

⁹Give instruction^d to the wise, and they will become wiser still;

teach the righteous, and they will gain in learning.^*

¹⁰The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.^*

¹¹For by me your days will be multiplied,

and years will be added to your life.^*

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

if you scoff, you alone will bear it.^*

Folly’s Invitation and Promise

¹³The foolish woman is loud;

she is ignorant and knows nothing.^*

¹⁴She sits at the door of her house,

on a seat at the high places of the town,

¹⁵calling to those who pass by,

who are going straight on their way,

¹⁶“You who are simple, turn in here!”

And to those without sense she says,

¹⁷“Stolen water is sweet,

and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”^*

¹⁸But they do not know that the dead^e are there,

that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.^*