Proverbs 9
MSG — The Message Bible (MSG)
NLT — New Living Translation Bible (NLT)
Verse 1
1-6 Lady Wisdom has built and furnished her home;
it’s supported by seven hewn timbers.
The banquet meal is ready to be served: lamb roasted,
wine poured out, table set with silver and flowers.
Having dismissed her serving maids,
Lady Wisdom goes to town, stands in a prominent place,
and invites everyone within sound of her voice:
“Are you confused about life, don’t know what’s going on?
Come with me, oh come, have dinner with me!
I’ve prepared a wonderful spread—fresh-baked bread,
roast lamb, carefully selected wines.
Leave your impoverished confusion and live!
Walk up the street to a life with meaning.”
it’s supported by seven hewn timbers.
The banquet meal is ready to be served: lamb roasted,
wine poured out, table set with silver and flowers.
Having dismissed her serving maids,
Lady Wisdom goes to town, stands in a prominent place,
and invites everyone within sound of her voice:
“Are you confused about life, don’t know what’s going on?
Come with me, oh come, have dinner with me!
I’ve prepared a wonderful spread—fresh-baked bread,
roast lamb, carefully selected wines.
Leave your impoverished confusion and live!
Walk up the street to a life with meaning.”
Wisdom has built her house;
she has carved its seven columns.
she has carved its seven columns.
Verse 2
— not in MSG
She has prepared a great banquet,
mixed the wines, and set the table.
mixed the wines, and set the table.
Verse 3
— not in MSG
She has sent her servants to invite everyone to come.
She calls out from the heights overlooking the city.
She calls out from the heights overlooking the city.
Verse 4
— not in MSG
“Come in with me,” she urges the simple.
To those who lack good judgment, she says,
To those who lack good judgment, she says,
Verse 5
— not in MSG
“Come, eat my food,
and drink the wine I have mixed.
and drink the wine I have mixed.
Verse 6
— not in MSG
Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live;
learn to use good judgment.”
learn to use good judgment.”
Verse 7
If you reason with an arrogant cynic, you’ll get slapped in the face;
confront bad behavior and get a kick in the shins.
So don’t waste your time on a scoffer;
all you’ll get for your pains is abuse.
But if you correct those who care about life,
that’s different—they’ll love you for it!
Save your breath for the wise—they’ll be wiser for it;
tell good people what you know—they’ll profit from it.
Skilled living gets its start in the Fear-of-God,
insight into life from knowing a Holy God.
It’s through me, Lady Wisdom, that your life deepens,
and the years of your life ripen.
Live wisely and wisdom will permeate your life;
mock life and life will mock you.
confront bad behavior and get a kick in the shins.
So don’t waste your time on a scoffer;
all you’ll get for your pains is abuse.
But if you correct those who care about life,
that’s different—they’ll love you for it!
Save your breath for the wise—they’ll be wiser for it;
tell good people what you know—they’ll profit from it.
Skilled living gets its start in the Fear-of-God,
insight into life from knowing a Holy God.
It’s through me, Lady Wisdom, that your life deepens,
and the years of your life ripen.
Live wisely and wisdom will permeate your life;
mock life and life will mock you.
Madame Whore Calls Out, Too
Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return.
Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt.
Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt.
Verse 8
— not in MSG
So don’t bother correcting mockers;
they will only hate you.
But correct the wise,
and they will love you.
they will only hate you.
But correct the wise,
and they will love you.
Verse 9
— not in MSG
Instruct the wise,
and they will be even wiser.
Teach the righteous,
and they will learn even more.
and they will be even wiser.
Teach the righteous,
and they will learn even more.
Verse 10
— not in MSG
Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.
Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.
Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.
Verse 11
— not in MSG
Wisdom will multiply your days
and add years to your life.
and add years to your life.
Verse 12
— not in MSG
If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit.
If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.
If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.
Folly Calls for a Hearing
Verse 13
Then there’s this other woman, Madame Whore—
brazen, empty-headed, frivolous.
She sits on the front porch
of her house on Main Street,
And as people walk by minding
their own business, calls out,
“Are you confused about life, don’t know what’s going on?
Steal off with me, I’ll show you a good time!
No one will ever know—I’ll give you the time of your life.”
But they don’t know about all the skeletons in her closet,
that all her guests end up in hell.
brazen, empty-headed, frivolous.
She sits on the front porch
of her house on Main Street,
And as people walk by minding
their own business, calls out,
“Are you confused about life, don’t know what’s going on?
Steal off with me, I’ll show you a good time!
No one will ever know—I’ll give you the time of your life.”
But they don’t know about all the skeletons in her closet,
that all her guests end up in hell.
The woman named Folly is brash.
She is ignorant and doesn’t know it.
She is ignorant and doesn’t know it.
Verse 14
— not in MSG
She sits in her doorway
on the heights overlooking the city.
on the heights overlooking the city.
Verse 15
— not in MSG
She calls out to men going by
who are minding their own business.
who are minding their own business.
Verse 16
— not in MSG
“Come in with me,” she urges the simple.
To those who lack good judgment, she says,
To those who lack good judgment, she says,
Verse 17
— not in MSG
“Stolen water is refreshing;
food eaten in secret tastes the best!”
food eaten in secret tastes the best!”
Verse 18
— not in MSG
But little do they know that the dead are there.
Her guests are in the depths of the grave.[a]
Her guests are in the depths of the grave.[a]