Proverbs 9

Wisdom’s Invitation

9WISDOM HAS built her house; she has hewn out {and} set up her seven [perfect number of] pillars.H2454H1129H1004H2672H7651H59822She has killed her beasts, she has mixed her [spiritual] wine; she has also set her table.H2873H2874H4537H3196H6186H79793She has sent out her maids to cry from the highest places of the town:H7971H5291H7121H1610H4791H71764Whoever is simple (easily led astray and wavering), let him turn in here! As for him who lacks understanding, [God's] Wisdom says to him,H6612H5493H2638H3820H5595Come, eat of my bread and drink of the [spiritual] wine which I have mixed.H3212H3898H3899H8354H3196H45376Leave off, simple ones [forsake the foolish and simpleminded] and live! And walk in the way of insight {and} understanding.H5800H6612H2421H833H1870H9987He who rebukes a scorner heaps upon himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man gets for himself bruises.H3256H3887H3947H7036H3198H7563H39718Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.H3198H3887H8130H3198H2450H1579Give instruction to a wise man and he will be yet wiser; teach a righteous man (one upright and in right standing with God) and he will increase in learning.H5414H2450H2449H3045H6662H3254H394810The reverent {and} worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning (the chief and choice part) of Wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight {and} understanding.H3374H3068H8462H2451H1847H6918H99811For by me [Wisdom from God] your days shall be multiplied, and the years of your life shall be increased.H3117H7235H8141H2416H325412If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scorn, you alone will bear it {and} pay the penalty.H2449H2449H3887H537513The foolish woman is noisy; she is simple {and} open to all forms of evil, she [willfully and recklessly] knows nothing whatever [of eternal value].H3687H802H1993H6615H1077H3045H410014For she sits at the door of her house {or} on a seat in the conspicuous places of the town,H3427H6607H1004H3678H4791H717615Calling to those who pass by, who go uprightly on their way:H7121H5674H1870H3474H73416Whoever is simple (wavering and easily led astray), let him turn in here! And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,H6612H5493H2638H3820H55917Stolen waters (pleasures) are sweet [because they are forbidden]; and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.H1589H4325H4985H3899H5643H527618But he knows not that the shades of the dead are there [specters haunting the scene of past transgressions], and that her invited guests are [already sunk] in the depths of Sheol (the lower world, Hades, the place of the dead).H3045H7496H7121H6012H7585