Proverbs 9

Wisdom’s Invitation

1Wisdom has 1built her house, She has carved out her seven pillars;2She has 23prepared her food, she has 4mixed her wine; She has also 5set her table;3She has 6sent out her attendants, she 7calls out From the 8tops of the heights of the city:4“9Whoever is naive, let him turn in here!” To him who 10lacks 11understanding she says,5“Come, 12eat of my food And drink of the wine I have mixed.613Abandon your foolishness and 14live, And 15proceed in the way of understanding.”

7One who 16corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself, And one who rebukes a wicked person gets 17insults for himself.818Do not rebuke a scoffer, or he will hate you; 19Rebuke a wise person and he will love you.9Give instruction to a wise person and he will become still wiser; Teach a righteous person and he will 20increase his insight.10The 21fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.11For 22by me your days will be multiplied, And years of life will be added to you.12If you are wise, you are wise 23for yourself, And if you 24scoff, you alone will 25suffer from it.

1326A woman of foolishness is 27boisterous, She has a lack of understanding and 28knows nothing.14She sits at the doorway of her house, On a seat by 29the high places of the city,15Calling to those who pass by, Who are going straight on their paths:16“30Whoever is naive, let him turn in here,” And to him who lacks 31understanding she says,17“Stolen water is sweet; And 32bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”18But he does not know that the 33dead are there, That her guests are in the 34depths of Sheol.