Wisdom’s Invitation
9 Wisdom[a] has built her house;
she has hewn out her seven pillars.
2 She has prepared her food,[b]
she has spiced[c] her wine,
and she also has set her dining table.
3 She has sent out her young women,
while calling out from the heights of the city,
4 “Let whoever is naïve, turn in here.”
To anyone lacking sense, she says,
5 “Come! Eat my food,
and drink the wine that I have mixed.
6 Leave your naïve ways, and live.
Walk in the path of understanding.”
Wisdom Extends Life
7 Whoever corrects a mocker invites only insult,[d]
and whoever rebukes the wicked will himself become stained.
8 Don’t rebuke a mocker or he will hate you.
Rebuke a wise person, and he will love you.
9 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
- Proverbs 9:1 I.e. wisdom personified as a woman
- Proverbs 9:2 Or meat
- Proverbs 9:2 Or mixed
- Proverbs 9:7 Lit. insult to himself
- Proverbs 9:10 Or knowing holy ones
- Proverbs 9:15 Or are going straight on their way
- Proverbs 9:18 I.e. the realm of the dead