Proverbs 9

21st Century King James Version

9 Wisdom hath built 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 from 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 mixed.

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

⁷ He that reproveth a scorner getteth for himself shame, and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a reproach.

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 be a scorner, thou alone shall 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 passers by who go rightly on their ways:

¹⁶ “Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither.” And as for him that lacketh 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. The proverbs of Solomon: