Proverbs 9

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

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

3 She has sent out her maidservants; she calls out from the heights of the city.

4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” she says to him who lacks judgment.

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

6 Leave your folly behind, and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.”

7 He who corrects a mocker brings shame on himself; he who rebukes a wicked man taints himself.

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 increase his learning.

10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

11 For through wisdom your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.

12 If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage; but if you scoff, you alone will bear the consequences.

13 The woman named Folly is loud; she is naive and knows nothing.

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

15 calling out to those who pass by, who make their paths straight.

16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” she says to him who lacks judgment.

17 “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is tasty!”

18 But they do not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

1 ¶ Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:

2 She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.

3 She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,

4 Whoso [is] simple, let him turn in hither: [as for] him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine [which] I have mingled.

6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked [man getteth] himself a blot.

8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

9 Give [instruction] to a wise [man], and he will be yet wiser: teach a just [man], and he will increase in learning.

10 The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy [is] understanding.

11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.

12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but [if] thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear [it].

13 ¶ A foolish woman [is] clamorous: [she is] simple, and knoweth nothing.

14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,

15 To call passengers who go right on their ways:

16 Whoso [is] simple, let him turn in hither: and [as for] him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread [eaten] in secret is pleasant.

18 But he knoweth not that the dead [are] there; [and that] her guests [are] in the depths of hell.

1 Wisdom built her house, and hewed seven pillars,

2 Slaughtered their cattle, and brought up their wine, and prepared their table.

3 And sent forth their harlots to charge the tops of the palaces of the city:

4 Let him that is foolish come hither. And to the fool she said:

5 Come, feed on my bread, and drink of the wine which I give.

6 Forsake the foolish things, and ye shall live; and walk in the way of understanding.

7 He that chastiseth the scorner shall be put to shame: and he that chastiseth the wicked shall be put to scorn.

8 Punish not the scoffer, he hateth thee: punish the wise, he shall love thee.

9 Give unto the wise, and he shall be yet wiser: teach the righteous, and he shall increase in doctrine.

10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and understanding teacheth that which is holy.

11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.

12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise unto thyself: if thou be a scoffer, thou shalt bear it alone.

13 But she is a foolish woman, a wild woman, full of babbling, and knoweth nothing;

14 Who sitteth in the door of her house upon the chair, up in the city,

15 To invite all who pass by and walk right in their ways.

16 He that is foolish, let him come hither. And to the fool she saith:

17 the hidden waters are sweet and the hidden bread is cute.

18 But he knoweth not that there are dead men there, and that their guests are in the depths of hell.