Proverbs 9:1-12

The Way of Wisdom

1 1Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her 2seven 3pillars.
2 She has 4slaughtered her beasts; she has 5mixed her wine; she has also 6set her table.
3 She has 7sent out her young women to 8call from 9the highest places in the town,
4 10"Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!" 11To him who lacks sense she says,
5 "Come, 12eat of my bread and 13drink of 14the wine I have mixed.
6 Leave 15your simple ways,[a] and 16live, 17and walk in the way of insight."
7 Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.
8 18Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; 19reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
9 Give instruction[b] to a wise man, and he will be 20still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will 21increase in learning.
10 22The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and 23the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
11 For by me 24your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.
12 25If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it.

Images for Proverbs 9:1-12

Cross References 25

  • 1. [Matthew 16:18; 1 Peter 2:5]; See Ephesians 2:20-22
  • 2. [Revelation 1:4]
  • 3. [1 Timothy 3:15]
  • 4. [Matthew 22:4]
  • 5. Proverbs 23:30; Song of Songs 8:2
  • 6. Psalms 23:5; [Luke 14:17]
  • 7. [Psalms 68:11; Matthew 22:3; Matthew 23:34]
  • 8. Proverbs 8:1, 2
  • 9. ver. 14; Proverbs 8:2; [Matthew 10:27]
  • 10. ver. 16; [Matthew 11:25; 1 Corinthians 1:26]
  • 11. Proverbs 6:32
  • 12. [Song of Songs 5:1; Isaiah 55:1; John 6:27]
  • 13. [John 7:37]
  • 14. [See ver. 2 above]
  • 15. See Proverbs 1:4
  • 16. [ver. 11]
  • 17. [Proverbs 23:19]
  • 18. [Matthew 7:6]
  • 19. See Psalms 141:5
  • 20. [Matthew 13:12]
  • 21. Proverbs 1:5
  • 22. See Proverbs 1:7
  • 23. Proverbs 30:3
  • 24. [Proverbs 10:27]; See Proverbs 3:2
  • 25. [Job 22:2, 3; 1 Corinthians 3:8; Galatians 6:5]

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Or Leave the company of the simple
  • [b]. Hebrew lacks instruction
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.