Proverbs 9
9
Invitations of Wisdom and Folly
1Wisdom has built her house;
she has set up#9:1 Septuagint, Syriac and Targum; Hebrew has hewn out 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#9:11 Septuagint, Syriac and Targum; Hebrew me 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.
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The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.
Proverbs 9
9
Wisdom’s Invitation
1Wisdom has built her house; she has made it strong with seven columns.#9:1 seven columns In ancient Israel, a good house was one that had four main rooms with seven columns to support the roof. 2She has cooked meat, mixed wine, and put food on the table. 3She has sent her servant girls to announce from the highest hill in the city,#9:3 Or “She has sent out her servant girls and invited people to come to the highest hill in the city to eat with her.” 4“Whoever needs instruction, come.” She invites all the simple people and says, 5“Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have prepared. 6Leave your old, foolish ways and live! Advance along the path of understanding.”
7Criticize a person who is rude and shows no respect, and you will only get insults. Correct the wicked, and you will only get hurt. 8Don’t correct such people, or they will hate you. But correct those who are wise, and they will love you. 9Teach the wise, and they will become wiser. Instruct those who live right, and they will gain more knowledge.
10Wisdom begins with fear and respect for the Lord. Knowledge of the Holy One leads to understanding. 11Wisdom will help you live longer; she will add years to your life. 12If you become wise, it will be for your own good. If you are rude and show no respect, you are the one who will suffer.
Foolishness—the Other Woman
13Foolishness is that other woman, who is loud, stupid, and knows nothing. 14She sits on her chair at the door of her house, up on the highest hill of the city. 15When people walk by, she calls out to them. They show no interest in her, but still she says, 16“Whoever needs instruction, come.” She invites all the simple people and says, 17“Stolen water is sweet. Stolen bread tastes good.” 18Those simple people don’t realize that her house is full of ghosts and that her guests have entered the world of the dead.
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