Proverbs 9

The Way of Wisdom

1Wisdom has built her house;[#Matt. 16:18; 1 Pet. 2:5]

she has hewn her seven pillars.

2She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine;[#Matt. 22:4; #23:30; Song 8:2]

she has also set her table.

3She has sent out her young women to call[#Ps. 68:11; Matt. 22:3; 23:34; #8:1, 2]

from the highest places in the town,

4“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”[#16; Matt. 11:25; 1 Cor. 1:26]

To him who lacks sense she says,

5“Come, eat of my bread[#Song 5:1; Isa. 55:1; John 6:27]

and drink of the wine I have mixed.

6Leave your simple ways, and live,[#1:4; #9:6 Or Leave the company of the simple; #11]

and walk in the way of insight.”

7Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse,

and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.

8Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;[#Matt. 7:6]

reprove a wise man, and he will love you.

9Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;[#9:9 Hebrew lacks; #Matt. 13:12]

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

10The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,[#1:7]

and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

11For by me your days will be multiplied,[#10:273:2]

and years will be added to your life.

12If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;[#Job 22:2, 3; 1 Cor. 3:8; Gal. 6:5]

if you scoff, you alone will bear it.

The Way of Folly

13The woman Folly is loud;[#7:7-27; #7:11]

she is seductive and knows nothing.

14She sits at the door of her house;

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

15calling to those who pass by,

who are going straight on their way,

16“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”[#4]

And to him who lacks sense she says,

17“Stolen water is sweet,[#5:15]

and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”

18But he does not know that the dead are there,[#7:27; #9:18 Hebrew]

that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Published by: Crossway / Good News Publishers