Proverbs 9

English Standard Version

The Way of Wisdom

9 ^(A)Wisdom has built her house;
    she has hewn her ^(B)seven ^(C)pillars.
²She has ^(D)slaughtered her beasts; she has ^(E)mixed her wine;
    she has also ^(F)set her table.
³She has ^(G)sent out her young women to ^(H)call
    from ^(I)the highest places in the town,
⁴^(J)“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
    ^(K)To him who lacks sense she says,
⁵“Come, ^(L)eat of my bread
    and ^(M)drink of ^(N)the wine I have mixed.
⁶Leave ^(O)your simple ways,^[a] and ^(P)live,
    ^(Q)and walk in the way of insight.”

⁷Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse,
    and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.
⁸^(R)Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;
    ^(S)reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
⁹Give instruction^[b] to a wise man, and he will be ^(T)still wiser;
    teach a righteous man, and he will ^(U)increase in learning.
¹⁰^(V)The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
    and ^(W)the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
¹¹For by me ^(X)your days will be multiplied,
    and years will be added to your life.
¹²^(Y)If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;
    if you scoff, you alone will bear it.

The Way of Folly

¹³^(Z)The woman Folly is ^(AA)loud;
    she is seductive^[c] and ^(AB)knows nothing.
¹⁴She sits at the door of her house;
    she takes a seat on ^(AC)the highest places of the town,
¹⁵calling to those who pass by,
    who are ^(AD)going straight on their way,
¹⁶^(AE)“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
    And to him who lacks sense she says,
¹⁷^(AF)“Stolen water is sweet,
    and ^(AG)bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
¹⁸But he does not know ^(AH)that the dead^[d] are there,
    that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.