Travelers choose between a bright orderly feast and a loud shadowed banquet in an ancient town

Proverbs 9:10

Young's Literal Translation
Chapter overview
Wisdom prepares a generous feast and invites the simple to leave immaturity and live. Folly offers a noisy counterfeit built on stolen pleasures, while reverence for the Lord remains the true beginning of wisdom.
Wisdom and follyInvitationFear of the LordTeachability

About Proverbs: book summary and outline →

1Wisdom hath builded her house, She hath hewn out her pillars — seven.
2She hath slaughtered her slaughter, She hath mingled her wine, Yea, she hath arranged her table.
3She hath sent forth her damsels, She crieth on the tops of the high places of the city:
4'Who [is] simple? let him turn aside hither.' Whoso lacketh heart: she hath said to him,
5'Come, eat of my bread, And drink of the wine I have mingled.
6Forsake ye, the simple, and live, And be happy in the way of understanding.
7The instructor of a scorner Is receiving for it — shame, And a reprover of the wicked — his blemish.
8Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee, Give reproof to the wise, and he loveth thee.
9Give to the wise, and he is wiser still, Make known to the righteous, And he increaseth learning.
10The commencement of wisdom [is] the fear of Jehovah, And a knowledge of the Holy Ones [is] understanding.
11For by me do thy days multiply, And added to thee are years of life.
12If thou hast been wise, thou hast been wise for thyself, And thou hast scorned — thyself bearest [it].
13A foolish woman [is] noisy, Simple, and hath not known what.
14And she hath sat at the opening of her house, On a throne — the high places of the city,
15To call to those passing by the way, Who are going straight [on] their paths.
16'Who [is] simple? let him turn aside hither.' And whoso lacketh heart — she said to him,
17'Stolen waters are sweet, And hidden bread is pleasant.'
18And he hath not known that Rephaim [are] there, In deep places of Sheol her invited ones!

Verses to memorize from Proverbs 9

  • Proverbs 9:10The commencement of wisdom [is] the fear of Jehovah, And a knowledge of…

Young's Literal Translation — Public Domain. Where these translations come from.