Proverbs 9

The Way of Wisdom

1 v Wisdom has built her house;
she has hewn her w seven x pillars.
2 She has y slaughtered her beasts; she has z mixed her wine;
she has also a set her table.
3 She has b sent out her young women to c call
from d the highest places in the town,
4 e "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!"
f To him who lacks sense she says,
5 "Come, g eat of my bread
and h drink of z the wine I have mixed.
6 Leave i your simple ways, 1 and j live,
k 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 l Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;
m reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
9 Give instruction 2 to a wise man, and he will be n still wiser;
teach a righteous man, and he will o increase in learning.
10 p The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and q the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
11 For by me r your days will be multiplied,
and years will be added to your life.
12 s If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;
if you scoff, you alone will bear it.

The Way of Folly

13 t The woman Folly is u loud;
she is seductive 3 and v knows nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house;
she takes a seat on w the highest places of the town,
15 calling to those who pass by,
who are x going straight on their way,
16 y "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!"
And to him who lacks sense she says,
17 z "Stolen water is sweet,
and a bread eaten in secret is pleasant."
18 But he does not know b that the dead 4 are there,
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

  1. Cross References
    Matthew 16:18
    And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
    1 Peter 2:5
    You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
    Ephesians 2:20 - 22
    Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.
  2. Cross References
    Revelation 1:4
    John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne.
  3. Cross References
    1 Timothy 3:15
    If I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.
  4. Cross References
    Matthew 22:4
    Again he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.
  5. Cross References
    Proverbs 23:30
    Those who tarry long over wine; those who go to try mixed wine.
    Song of Solomon 8:2
    I would lead you and bring you into the house of my mother - she who used to teach me. I would give you spiced wine to drink, the juice of my pomegranate.
  6. Cross References
    Psalms 23:5
    You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
    Luke 14:17
    And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.
  7. Cross References
    Psalms 68:11
    The Lord gives the word; the women who announce the news are a great host:
    Matthew 22:3
    And sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come.
    Matthew 23:34
    Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town.
  8. Cross References
    Proverbs 8:1 - 2
    Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice?
  9. Cross References
    Proverbs 9:14
    She sits at the door of her house; she takes a seat on the highest places of the town.
    Proverbs 8:2
    On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand.
    Matthew 10:27
    What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.
  10. Cross References
    Proverbs 9:16
    Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!" And to him who lacks sense she says.
    Matthew 11:25
    At that time Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children.
    1 Corinthians 1:26
    For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.
  11. Cross References
    Proverbs 6:32
    He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself.
  12. Cross References
    Song of Solomon 5:1
    I came to my garden, my sister, my bride, I gathered my myrrh with my spice, I ate my honeycomb with my honey, I drank my wine with my milk. Eat, friends, drink, and be drunk with love!
    Isaiah 55:1
    Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
    John 6:27
    Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.
  13. Cross References
    John 7:37
    On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.
  14. Cross References
    Proverbs 9:2
    She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table.
  15. Cross References
    Proverbs 1:4
    To give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth -
  16. Cross References
    Proverbs 9:11
    For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.
  17. Cross References
    Proverbs 23:19
    Hear, my son, and be wise, and direct your heart in the way.
  18. Cross References
    Matthew 7:6
    Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.
  19. Cross References
    Psalms 141:5
    Let a righteous man strike me - it is a kindness; let him rebuke me - it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it. Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds.
  20. Cross References
    Matthew 13:12
    For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
  21. Cross References
    Proverbs 1:5
    Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance.
  22. Cross References
    Proverbs 1:7
    The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
  23. Cross References
    Proverbs 30:3
    I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.
  24. Cross References
    Proverbs 10:27
    The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short.
    Proverbs 3:2
    For length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.
  25. Cross References
    Job 22:2 - 3
    Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.
    1 Corinthians 3:8
    He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.
    Galatians 6:5
    For each will have to bear his own load.
  26. Cross References
    Proverbs 9:13 - 18
    The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive and knows nothing.
    Proverbs 7:7 - 27
    And I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among the youths, a young man lacking sense.
  27. Cross References
    Proverbs 7:11
    She is loud and wayward; her feet do not stay at home.
  28. Cross References
    Proverbs 5:6
    She does not ponder the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it.
  29. Cross References
    Proverbs 9:3
    She has sent out her young women to call from the highest places in the town.
  30. Cross References
    Proverbs 9:6
    Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight.
  31. Cross References
    Proverbs 9:4
    Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!" To him who lacks sense she says.
  32. Cross References
    Proverbs 5:15
    Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well.
  33. Cross References
    Proverbs 20:17
    Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.
    Proverbs 30:20
    This is the way of an adulteress: she eats and wipes her mouth and says, "I have done no wrong.
  34. Cross References
    Proverbs 7:27
    Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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