Proverbs 9
Modern English Version
The Way of Wisdom
9 Wisdom has built her house,
she has hewn out her seven pillars;
2 she has killed her beasts, she has mixed her wine,
she has also furnished her table.
3 She has sent out her maidens,
she cries out from the highest places of the city,
4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here.”
As for him who wants understanding, she says to him,
5 “Come, eat of my bread,
and drink of the wine which I have mixed.
6 Forsake foolishness and live,
and go in the way of understanding.”
7 He who reproves a scorner gets shame for himself,
and he who rebukes a wicked man gets hurt.
8 Do not reprove a scorner, lest he hate you;
rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
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 One is understanding.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied,
and the years of your life will be increased.
12 If you are wise, you will be wise for yourself,
but if you scorn, you alone will bear it.
The Way of Foolishness
13 A foolish woman is clamorous;
she is simple, and knows nothing.
14 For she sits at the door of her house,
on a seat in the high places of the city,
15 to call those who pass by
who go right on their way:
16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here.”
And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
17 “Stolen waters are sweet,
and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 But he does not know that the dead are there,
and that her guests are in the depths of the grave.
Proverbs 9
Legacy Standard Bible
Wisdom and Foolishness Call Out
9 Wisdom has (A)built her house,
She has hewn out her seven pillars;
2 She has [a](B)slaughtered her cattle, she has (C)mixed her wine;
She has also (D)prepared her table;
3 She has (E)sent out her maidens, she (F)calls
From the (G)tops of the heights of the city:
4 “(H)Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
To him who (I)lacks a heart of wisdom she says,
5 “Come, (J)eat of my bread
And drink of the wine I have mixed.
6 [b]Forsake your simplicity and (K)live,
And (L)step into the way of understanding.”
7 He who (M)disciplines a scoffer receives disgrace for himself,
And he who reproves a wicked man receives injury for himself.
8 (N)Do not reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you,
(O)Reprove a wise man and he will love you.
9 Give knowledge to a wise man and he will be still wiser,
Make a righteous man know it and he will (P)increase his learning.
10 The (Q)fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For (R)by me your days will become many,
And years of life will be added to you.
12 If you are wise, you are wise (S)for yourself,
And if you (T)scoff, you alone will bear it.
13 The woman of [c]foolishness is (U)boisterous,
A woman of simplicity, and (V)does not know anything.
14 She sits at the doorway of her house,
On a seat by (W)the high places of the city,
15 To call to those who pass by that way,
Who are making their paths straight:
16 “(X)Whoever is simple, let him turn in here,”
And to him who lacks a heart of wisdom she says,
17 “Stolen water is sweet;
And (Y)bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 But he does not know that the [d]dead are there,
That those she called are in the (Z)depths of Sheol.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 9:2 Lit slaughtered her slaughter
- Proverbs 9:6 Or Forsake the simple ones
- Proverbs 9:13 Insolent foolishness of one who fails in wisdom due to willful sin
- Proverbs 9:18 Lit departed spirits
Proverbs 9
New King James Version
The Way of Wisdom
9 Wisdom has (A)built her house,
She has hewn out her seven pillars;
2 (B)She has slaughtered her meat,
(C)She has mixed her wine,
She has also [a]furnished her table.
3 She has sent out her maidens,
She cries out from the highest places of the city,
4 “Whoever(D) is simple, let him turn in here!”
As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
5 “Come,(E) eat of my bread
And drink of the wine I have mixed.
6 Forsake foolishness and live,
And go in the way of understanding.
7 “He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself,
And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself.
8 (F)Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you;
(G)Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
Teach a just man, (H)and he will increase in learning.
10 “The(I) fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 (J)For by me your days will be multiplied,
And years of life will be added to you.
12 (K)If you are wise, you are wise for yourself,
And if you scoff, you will bear it alone.”
The Way of Folly
13 (L)A foolish woman is [b]clamorous;
She is simple, and knows nothing.
14 For she sits at the door of her house,
On a seat (M)by the highest places of the city,
15 To call to those who pass by,
Who go straight on their way:
16 “Whoever(N) is [c]simple, let him turn in here”;
And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
17 “Stolen(O) water is sweet,
And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 But he does not know that (P)the dead are there,
That her guests are in the depths of [d]hell.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 9:2 arranged
- Proverbs 9:13 boisterous
- Proverbs 9:16 naive
- Proverbs 9:18 Or Sheol
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.
Legacy Standard Bible Copyright ©2021 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org For Permission to Quote Information visit https://www.LSBible.org.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
