The Feasts of Wisdom and Folly

Proverbs 9

Wisdom builds a house, prepares a feast, and sends out her servants to call the simple to her table, while the chapter also observes that a wise man welcomes correction but a scorner only earns contempt for the one who rebukes him. In contrast, a foolish woman sits at her own door calling passersby to stolen bread and secret water, though her guests do not know death waits with her.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonWISDOM hath built herself a house, and fixed underneath it seven pillars.

BrentonWisdom has built a house for herself, and set up seven pillars.

GreekἩ σοφία ᾠκοδόμησεν ἑαυτῇ οἶκον, καὶ ὑπήρεισε στύλους ἑπτά.

KJVWisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:

JPSWisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars;

Thomson—

BrentonShe has killed her beasts; she has mingled her wine in a bowl, and prepared her table.

GreekἜσφαξε τὰ ἑαυτῆς θύματα, ἐκέρασεν εἰς κρατῆρα τὸν ἑαυτῆς οἶνον, καὶ ἡτοιμάσατο τὴν ἑαυτῆς τράπεζαν.

KJVShe hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.

JPSShe hath prepared her meat, she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.

ThomsonShe hath sent out her servants, and with a loud proclamation hath given an invitation to her entertainment, saying:

BrentonShe has sent forth her servants, calling with a loud proclamation to the feast, saying,

GreekἈπέστειλε τοὺς ἑαυτῆς δούλους, συγκαλοῦσα μετὰ ὑψηλοῦ κηρύγματος ἐπὶ κρατῆρα, λέγουσα,

KJV—

JPS—

Thomson—

BrentonWhoso is foolish, let him turn aside to me: and to them that want understanding she says,

GreekὍς ἐστιν ἄφρων, ἐκκλινάτω πρὸς μέ· καὶ τοῖς ἐνδεέσι φρενῶν εἶπεν,

KJVWhoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

JPS’Whoso is thoughtless, let him turn in hither’; as for him that lacketh understanding, she saith to him:

Thomson“Come, eat of my bread and drink the wine which I have mixed for you.

BrentonCome, eat of my bread, and drink wine which I have mingled for you.

Greekἔλθατε, φάγετε τῶν ἐμῶν ἄρτων, καὶ πίετε οἶνον ὃν ἐκέρασα ὑμῖν.

KJVCome, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.

JPS'Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.

ThomsonForsake folly, that you may reign forever; and seek prudence and build up understanding with knowledge.”

BrentonLeave folly, that ye may reign for ever; and seek wisdom, and improve understanding by knowledge.

GreekἈπολείπετε ἀφροσύνην, ἵνα εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα βασιλεύσητε· καὶ ζητήσατε φρόνησιν, καὶ κατορθώσατε ἐν γνώσει σύνεσιν.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonHe who instructeth the wicked shall receive for himself dishonour; and he who reproveth the ungodly will blemish himself.

BrentonHe that reproves evil men shall get dishonour to himself; and he that rebukes an ungodly man shall disgrace himself.

GreekὉ παιδεύων κακοὺς λήψεται ἑαυτῷ ἀτιμίαν· ἐλέγχων δὲ τὸν ἀσεβῆ μωμήσεται ἑαυτόν.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonRebuke not the wicked, lest they hate thee; rebuke a wise man and he will love thee.

BrentonRebuke not evil men, lest they should hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

GreekΜὴ ἔλεγχε κακοὺς, ἵνα μὴ μισήσωσί σε· ἔλεγχε σοφὸν, καὶ ἀγαπήσει σε.

KJVReprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

JPSReprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee; reprove a wise man, and he will love thee.

ThomsonGive a wise man a hint and he will be wiser—an intimation to a righteous man and he will proceed to take it.

BrentonGive an opportunity to a wise man, and he will be wiser: instruct a just man, and he will receive more instruction.

GreekΔίδου σοφῷ ἀφορμὴν, καὶ σοφώτερος ἔσται· γνώριζε δικαίῳ, καὶ προσθήσει τοῦ δέχεσθαι.

KJVGive instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

JPSGive to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

ThomsonThe fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and knowledge is the counsel of the holy. For to know the law is a characteristic of a good understanding;

BrentonThe fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the counsel of saints is understanding:

GreekἈρχὴ σοφίας φόβος Κυρίου, καὶ βουλὴ ἁγίων σύνεσις·

KJVThe fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

JPSThe fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the All-holy is understanding.

10a

Thomson—

Brentonfor to know the law is the character of a sound mind.

Greekτὸ γὰρ γνῶναι νόμον, διανοίας ἐστὶν ἀγαθῆς.

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonfor by this means thou shalt live long, and years of life will be added to thee. My son, if thou art wise for thyself, thou wilt be wise also for thy neighbours. But if thou become wicked, thou alone shalt draw up evils.

BrentonFor in this way thou shalt live long, and years of thy life shall be added to thee.

GreekΤούτῳ γὰρ τῷ τρόπῳ πολὺν ζήσεις χρόνον, καὶ προστεθήσεταί σοι ἔτη ζωῆς σου.

KJVFor by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.

JPSFor by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.

Thomson—

BrentonSon, if thou be wise for thyself, thou shalt also be wise for thy neighbours; and if thou shouldest prove wicked, thou alone wilt bear the evil.

GreekΥἱὲ ἐὰν σοφὸς γένῃ σεαυτῷ, σοφὸς ἔσῃ καὶ τοῖς πλησίον· ἐὰν δὲ κακὸς ἀποβῇς, μόνος ἂν ἀντλήσεις κακά·

KJVIf thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.

JPSIf thou art wise, thou art wise for thyself; And if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.’

12a

Thomson—

BrentonHe that stays himself upon falsehoods, attempts to rule the winds, and the same will pursue birds in their flight:

Greekὃς ἐρείδεται ἐπὶ ψεύδεσιν, οὗτος ποιμαίνει ἀνέμους, ὁ δʼ αὐτὸς διώξεται ὄρνεα πετόμενα·

KJV—

JPS—

12b

Thomson—

Brentonfor he has forsaken the ways of his own vineyard, and he has caused the axles of his own husbandry to go astray;

Greekἀπέλιπε γὰρ ὁδοὺς τοῦ ἑαυτοῦ ἀμπελῶνος, τοὺς δὲ ἄξονας τοῦ ἰδίου γεωργίου πεπλάνηται·

KJV—

JPS—

12c

ThomsonHe who leaneth upon lies feedeth on the wind, and he shall pursue flying birds: for he hath left the walks of his own vineyard, and wandered out of the paths of his own field, and traverseth a desert without water, and a land destined to thirst; and with his hands gathereth sterility.

Brentonand he goes through a dry desert, and a land appointed to drought, and he gathers barrenness with his hands.

Greekδιαπορεύεται δὲ διʼ ἀνύδρου ἐρήμου, καὶ γῆν διατεταγμένην ἐν διψώδεσι, συνάγει δὲ χερσὶν ἀκαρπίαν.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonA woman who is foolish and bold needeth a curb; she hath no sense of shame.

BrentonA foolish and bold woman, who knows not modesty, comes to want a morsel.

GreekΓυνὴ ἄφρων καὶ θρασεῖα ἐνδεὴς ψωμοῦ γίνεται, ἣ οὐκ ἐπίσταται αἰσχύνην.

KJVA foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.

JPS—

ThomsonShe sat at the doors of her house—on a seat open to view in the streets,

BrentonShe sits at the doors of her house, on a seat openly in the streets,

GreekἘκάθισεν ἐπὶ θύραις τοῦ ἑαυτῆς οἴκου, ἐπὶ δίφρου ἐμφανῶς ἐν πλατείαις,

KJVFor she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,

JPSAnd she sitteth at the door of her house, On a seat in the high places of the city,

Thomsoncalling to passengers who were going right on their ways,

Brentoncalling to passers by, and to those that are going right on their ways;

Greekπροσκαλουμένη τοὺς παριόντας καὶ κατευθύνοντας ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτῶν·

KJVTo call passengers who go right on their ways:

JPSTo call to them that pass by, Who go right on their ways:

ThomsonLet him who is the simplest of you turn aside to me; and them who lack prudence I exhort saying,

Brentonsaying, Whoso is most senseless of you, let him turn aside to me; and I exhort those that want prudence, saying,

GreekὍς ἐστιν ὑμῶν ἀφρονέστατος, ἐκκλινάτω πρὸς μέ· καὶ τοῖς ἐνδεέσι φρονήσεως παρακελεύομαι, λέγουσα,

KJVWhoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

JPS’Whoso is thoughtless, let him turn in hither’; And as for him that lacketh understanding, she saith to him:

ThomsonTaste sweetly bread in secret, and water sweeter for being stolen.

BrentonTake and enjoy secret bread, and the sweet water of theft.

Greekἄρτων κρυφίων ἡδέως ἅψασθε, καὶ ὕδατος κλοπῆς γλυκεροῦ.

KJVStolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

JPS’Stolen waters are sweet, And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.’

Thomson—

BrentonBut he knows that mighty men die by her, and he falls in with a snare of hell.

GreekὉ δὲ οὐκ οἶδεν ὅτι γηγενεῖς παρʼ αὐτῇ ὄλλυνται, καὶ ἐπὶ πέταυρον ᾅδου συναντᾷ·

KJV—

JPS—

18a

Thomson—

BrentonBut hasten away, delay not in the place, neither fix thine eye upon her:

Greekἀλλὰ ἀποπήδησον, μὴ χρονίσῃς ἐν τῷ τόπῳ, μηδὲ ἐπιστήσῃς τὸ σὸν ὄμμα πρὸς αὐτὴν,

KJV—

JPS—

18b

Thomson—

Brentonfor thus shalt thou go through strange water;

Greekοὕτως γὰρ διαβήσῃ ὕδωρ ἀλλότριον·

KJV—

JPS—

18c

ThomsonHe indeed did not know that with her the earth-born perish—that he is lighting upon the perch of death. But fly thou away speedily; tarry not in that place, nor fix thine eyes upon her; for in this manner thou shouldst pass by strange water. Abstain from strange water, and drink not of a strange fountain; that thou mayst live long, and that years of life may be added to thee.

Brentonbut do thou abstain from strange water, and drink not of a strange fountain,

Greekἀπὸ δὲ ὕδατος ἀλλοτρίου ἀπόσχου, καὶ ἀπὸ πηγῆς ἀλλοτρίας μὴ πίῃς

KJV—

JPS—

18d

Thomson—

Brentonthat thou mayest live long, and years of life may be added to thee.

Greekἵνα πολὺν ζησῃς χρόνον, προστεθῇ δέ σοι ἔτη ζωῆς.

KJV—

JPS—