1 Wisdom has built her house. She has carved out her seven pillars.
2 She has prepared her meat. She has mixed her wine. She has also set her table.
3 She has sent out her maidens. She cries from the highest places of the city:
4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
5 “Come, eat some of my bread, Drink some of the wine which I have mixed!
6 Leave your simple ways, and live. Walk in the way of understanding.”
7 He who corrects a mocker invites insult. He who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.
8 Don’t reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you. Reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
9 Instruct a wise man, and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
10 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied. The years of your life will be increased.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself. If you mock, you alone will bear it.
13 The foolish woman is loud, undisciplined, and knows nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
15 To call to those who pass by, who go straight on their ways,
16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here.” as for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
17 “Stolen water is sweet. Food eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 But he doesn’t know that the departed spirits are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
Study Proverbs 9
Read the complete chapter before isolating one sentence, and note the reference and edition beside anything you quote. Then take a focused next step: a passage-note method or a memory practice method .
Edition and source notes
This is the World English Bible, a public-domain translation, in its own numbering: 18 verses of Proverbs 9, with punctuation and line breaks as published. Source notes are labelled separately; the publisher’s headings and cross references are not part of the text. WEB edition notes.
Read Proverbs 9 in the King James Version or the Berean Standard Bible .
Open Proverbs 9 in the study app to take notes, make review cards or map the passage; it requires an account.