Proverbs 9

¹Wisdom has made her house, putting up her seven pillars.

²She has put her fat beasts to death; her wine is mixed, her table is ready.

³She has sent out her women-servants; her voice goes out to the highest places of the town, saying,

⁴Whoever is simple, let him come in here; and to him who has no sense, she says:

⁵Come, take of my bread, and of my wine which is mixed.

⁶Give up the simple ones and have life, and go in the way of knowledge.

⁷He who gives teaching to a man of pride gets shame for himself; he who says sharp words to a sinner gets a bad name.

⁸Do not say sharp words to a man of pride, or he will have hate for you; make them clear to a wise man, and you will be dear to him.

⁹Give teaching to a wise man, and he will become wiser; give training to an upright man, and his learning will be increased.

¹⁰The fear of the Lord is the start of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One gives a wise mind

¹¹For by me your days will be increased, and the years of your life will be long.

¹²If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if your heart is full of pride, you only will have the pain of it.

¹³The foolish woman is full of noise; she has no sense at all.

¹⁴Seated at the door of her house, in the high places of the town,

¹⁵Crying out to those who go by, going straight on their way, she says:

¹⁶Whoever is simple, let him come in here: and to him who is without sense, she says:

¹⁷Drink taken without right is sweet, and food in secret is pleasing.

¹⁸But he does not see that the dead are there, that her guests are in the deep places of the underworld.

¹Wisdom has built her house. She has carved out her seven pillars.

²She has prepared her meat. She has mixed her wine. She has also set her table.

³She has sent out her maidens. She cries from the highest places of the city:

⁴"Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!" As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,

⁵"Come, eat some of my bread, Drink some of the wine which I have mixed!

⁶Leave your simple ways, and live. Walk in the way of understanding."

⁷He who corrects a mocker invites insult. He who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.

⁸Do not reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you. Reprove a wise man, and he will love you.

⁹Instruct a wise man, and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

¹⁰The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

¹¹For by me your days will be multiplied. The years of your life will be increased.

¹²If you are wise, you are wise for yourself. If you mock, you alone will bear it.

¹³The foolish woman is loud, Undisciplined, and knows nothing.

¹⁴She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,

¹⁵To call to those who pass by, who go straight on their ways,

¹⁶"Whoever is simple, let him turn in here." as for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,

¹⁷"Stolen water is sweet. Food eaten in secret is pleasant."

¹⁸But he doesn't know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.