Proverbs 9 (NIV84)

Proverbs 9

Invitations of Wisdom and of Folly

¹ Wisdom has built her house;
she has hewn out its seven pillars.

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

³ She has sent out her maids, and she calls
from the highest point of the city.

⁴ “Let all who are simple come in here!”
she says to those who lack judgment.

⁵ “Come, eat my food
and drink the wine I have mixed.

⁶ Leave your simple ways and you will live;
walk in the way of understanding.

⁷ “Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult;
whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse.

⁸ Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you;
rebuke a wise man and he will love you.

⁹ Instruct 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 the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

¹¹ For through me your days will be many,
and years will be added to your life.

¹² If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you;
if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.”

¹³ The woman Folly is loud;
she is undisciplined and without knowledge.

¹⁴ She sits at the door of her house,
on a seat at the highest point of the city,

¹⁵ calling out to those who pass by,
who go straight on their way.

¹⁶ “Let all who are simple come in here!”
she says to those who lack judgment.

¹⁷ “Stolen water is sweet;
food eaten in secret is delicious!”

¹⁸ But little do they know that the dead are there,
that her guests are in the depths of the grave. ^[a]

Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 9:18 Hebrew Sheol