Proverbs 9

1 Wisdom [divine insight, good judgment] has built [established, constructed] her house [dwelling place, temple]; she has carved out [hewn, cut] her seven pillars [columns, supports]. word study 2 She has prepared [slaughtered, killed] her meat [beasts, animals] and mixed [mingled, blended] her wine [fermented drink]; she has also [in addition, furthermore] set [arranged, furnished] her table [place of communion, sacred feast]. word study 3 She has sent out her [servant girls, maidens] maidservants; she calls out [cries, invites] from the [highest, lofty] heights of the city [town, urban area]. word study 4 “Whoever is simple [easily influenced, naive], let him turn in [come, turn aside] here [to this place, at this time]!” she says to him who lacks [is destitute of, wants] judgment [understanding, heart]. word study 5 “Come [to walk with me, to live with me], eat my bread [food, sustenance] and drink the wine [fermented wine] I have mixed [mingled, prepared] [to feast and celebrate]. word study 6 Leave your [foolish, simple] folly [childishness, naivety] behind, and you will live [have life, be revived]; walk in the way [path, road] of [discerning, wise] understanding [knowledge, discernment].” word study 7 He who corrects [disciplines, teaches] a mocker [scoffer, one who mocks] brings [gets, receives] shame [dishonor, disgrace] on himself; he who rebukes [reproves, scolds] a wicked [morally wrong, sinful] man [person, individual] taints [gets a blot, receives a stain] himself. word study 8 Do not [refrain from, lest] rebuke [correct, argue with] a mocker [scoffer, one who scorns], or he will [likely to, tend to] hate [intensely dislike, have hostility towards] you; rebuke [give reproof to, convince] a wise [prudent, skilled] man, and he will [tend to, likely to] love [have affection for, respect] you. word study 9 Instruct [give guidance to, teach] a wise [intelligent, skilled] man, and he will be wiser [more discerning] still; teach [give instruction to, educate] a righteous [just, upright] man, and he will increase [add to, augment] his learning [knowledge, understanding]. word study 10 The fear [reverence, deep respect] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] is the beginning [start, commencement] of wisdom [skill, prudence, or good judgment], and knowledge [understanding, discernment] of the Holy One [set apart, sacred] is understanding [discernment, wisdom]. word study 11 For [because of this reason] through wisdom [practical knowledge, discernment] your days [periods of time, life seasons] will be multiplied [increased, grown], and years [periods of time, seasons of life] will be added [increased, augmented] to your life [physical and spiritual existence, being alive]. word study 12 If you are wise [having good judgment, acting intelligently], you are wise to your own advantage [for your own benefit, to your own profit]; but if you scoff [to mock, scorn, or ridicule], you alone [by yourself, apart from others] will bear the consequences [suffer the results, lift the burden]. word study 13 The woman [foolish, lacking wisdom] named Folly [stupidity, foolishness] is loud [clamorous, noisy, full of turmoil]; she is naive [simple, easily deceived, lacking discernment] and knows [to ascertain by seeing, to learn, to perceive] nothing [not anything, absent of wisdom]. word study 14 She sits [dwells, remains] at the door [entrance, threshold] of her house [dwelling place, home], on a seat [throne, place of authority] in the heights [high places, elevated areas] of the city [town, urban center], word study 15 calling out [to invite, summon] to those who pass by [travelers, journeying on], who make [smooth, straighten] their paths [ways, journeys] straight [right, upright, pleasant]. word study 16 “Whoever [any person, whoso] is simple [naive, lacking discernment], let him turn in [come aside, turn aside to] here [to this place]!” she says to him who lacks [is devoid of, wants] judgment [understanding, wisdom]. word study 17 “Stolen [secretly taken, plundered] water [a liquid or source of refreshment] is sweet [pleasant, delightful], and bread [food, grain] eaten in [with, or accompanied by] secret [secrecy, hidden] is tasty [pleasing, agreeable, pleasant]!” word study 18 But they do not know [are unaware, have no understanding] that the dead [Rephaim, departed spirits] are there [in that place], that her guests [those she’s invited, called] are in the depths [unfathomable, deep places] of Sheol [the underworld, hell, grave]. word study