Sprüche 9 | New International Reader’s Version

Wisdom and foolishness call out

1 Wisdom has built her house. She has set up its seven pillars. 2 She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine. She has also set her table. 3 She has sent out her servants. She calls out from the highest point of the city. 4 She says, ‘Let all who are childish come to my house!’ She speaks to those who have no sense. She says, 5 ‘Come and eat my food. Drink the wine I have mixed. 6 Leave your childish ways and you will live. Walk in the way of understanding.’ 7 When you correct someone who makes fun of others, you might be laughed at. When you warn a sinner, you might get hurt. 8 Don’t warn those who make fun of others, or they will hate you. Warn those who are wise, and they will love you. 9 Teach a wise person, and they will become even wiser. Teach a person who does right, and they will learn even more. 10 If you want to become wise, you must begin by respecting the LORD. To know the Holy One is to gain understanding. 11 Through wisdom, you will live a long time. Years will be added to your life. 12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you. If you make fun of others, you alone will suffer. 13 The woman called Foolishness is wild. She is childish and knows nothing. 14 She sits at the door of her house. She sits at the highest point of the city. 15 She calls out to those who pass by. She calls out to those who go straight on their way. She says, 16 ‘Let all who are childish come to my house!’ She speaks to those who have no sense. 17 She says, ‘Stolen water is sweet. Food eaten in secret tastes good!’ 18 But they don’t know that dead people are there. They don’t know that her guests are deep in the place of the dead.

English Standard Version

The Way of Wisdom

1 Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars. 2 She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table. 3 She has sent out her young women to call from the highest places in the town, 4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” To him who lacks sense she says, 5 “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. 6 Leave your simple ways,* and live, and walk in the way of insight.” 7 Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. 8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. 9 Give instruction* to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous 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 insight. 11 For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life. 12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it.

The Way of Folly

13 The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive* and knows nothing. 14 She sits at the door of her house; she takes a seat on the highest places of the town, 15 calling to those who pass by, who are going straight on their way, 16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” And to him who lacks sense she says, 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 Sheol.

Sprüche 9 | New International Reader’s Version English Standard Version

Wisdom and foolishness call out

The Way of Wisdom

The Way of Folly