1Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars. (Mt 16:18; Eph 2:20; 1Ti 3:15; 1Pe 2:5; Re 1:4)2She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table. (Ps 23:5; Pr 23:30; So 8:2; Mt 22:4; Lu 14:17)3She has sent out her young women to call from the highest places in the town, (Ps 68:11; Pr 8:1; Pr 8:2; Pr 9:14; Mt 10:27; Mt 22:3; Mt 23:34)4“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” To him who lacks sense she says, (Pr 6:32; Pr 9:16; Mt 11:25; 1Co 1:26)5“Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. (Pr 9:2; So 5:1; Isa 55:1; Joh 6:27; Joh 7:37)6Leave your simple ways,[1] and live, and walk in the way of insight.” (Pr 1:4; Pr 9:11; Pr 23:19)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; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. (Ps 141:5; Mt 7:6)9Give instruction[2] to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. (Pr 1:5; Mt 13:12)10The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. (Pr 1:7; Pr 30:3)11For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life. (Pr 3:2; Pr 10:27)12If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it. (Job 22:2; 1Co 3:8; Ga 6:5)
The Way of Folly
13The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive[3] and knows nothing. (Pr 5:6; Pr 7:7; Pr 7:11)14She sits at the door of her house; she takes a seat on the highest places of the town, (Pr 9:3)15calling to those who pass by, who are going straight on their way, (Pr 9:6)16“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” And to him who lacks sense she says, (Pr 9:4)17“Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” (Pr 5:15; Pr 20:17; Pr 30:20)18But he does not know that the dead[4] are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol. (Pr 7:27)
Proverbs 9
New International Version
Invitations of wisdom and folly
1Wisdom has built her house; she has set up[1] its seven pillars.2She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table.3She has sent out her servants, and she calls from the highest point of the city,4‘Let all who are simple come to my house!’ To those who have no sense she says,5‘Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed.6Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.’7Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults; whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.8Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you.9Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.10The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.11For through wisdom[2] your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.12If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.13Folly is an unruly woman; she is simple and knows nothing.14She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city,15calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way,16‘Let all who are simple come to my house!’ To those who have no sense she says,17‘Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!’18But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.