Proverbs - Chapter 9

The Banquet of Wisdom

¹ Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her seven pillars;

² She has slaughtered her meat, 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 lacks understanding, she says to him,

⁵ "Come, eat of my bread And drink of the wine I have mixed.

⁶ Forsake foolishness and live, And go in the way of understanding.

Against the Mockingbird

⁷ " He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, And he who rebukes a wicked [man only] harms himself.

⁸ Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; 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,] 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 years of life will be added to you.

¹² If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, And [if] you scoff, you will bear [it] alone."

The Banquet of Folly

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 [by] the highest places of the city,

¹⁵ To call to those who pass by, Who go straight 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 water is sweet, And bread [eaten] in secret is pleasant."

¹⁸ But he does not know that the dead [are] there, [That] her guests [are] in the depths of hell.