Proverbs 9:4
New International Version
“Let all who are simple come to my house!” To those who have no sense she says,

New Living Translation
“Come in with me,” she urges the simple. To those who lack good judgment, she says,

English Standard Version
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” To him who lacks sense she says,

Berean Standard Bible
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” she says to him who lacks judgment.

King James Bible
Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

New King James Version
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,

New American Standard Bible
“Whoever is naive, let him turn in here!” To him who lacks understanding she says,

NASB 1995
“Whoever is naive, let him turn in here!” To him who lacks understanding she says,

NASB 1977
“Whoever is naive, let him turn in here!” To him who lacks understanding she says,

Legacy Standard Bible
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” To him who lacks a heart of wisdom she says,

Amplified Bible
“Whoever is naive or inexperienced, let him turn in here!” As for him who lacks understanding, she says,

Christian Standard Bible
“Whoever is inexperienced, enter here! ” To the one who lacks sense, she says,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Whoever is inexperienced, enter here!” To the one who lacks sense, she says,”

American Standard Version
Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: As for him that is void of understanding, she saith to him,

Contemporary English Version
"Everyone who is ignorant or foolish is invited!

English Revised Version
Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that is void of understanding, she saith to him,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Whoever is gullible turn in here!" She says to a person without sense,

Good News Translation
"Come in, ignorant people!" And to the foolish she says,

International Standard Version
"Let whoever is na�ve, turn in here." To anyone lacking sense, she says,

Majority Standard Bible
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” she says to him who lacks judgment.

NET Bible
"Whoever is naive, let him turn in here," she says to those who lack understanding.

New Heart English Bible
"Whoever is simple, let him turn in here." As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,

Webster's Bible Translation
Whoever is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

World English Bible
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“Who [is] simple? Let him turn aside here.” Whoever lacks heart: she has said to him,

Young's Literal Translation
Who is simple? let him turn aside hither.' Whoso lacketh heart: she hath said to him,

Smith's Literal Translation
Who the simple, he shall turn aside here: he wanting heart, she said to him,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Whosoever is a little one, let him come to me. And to the unwise she said:

Catholic Public Domain Version
“If anyone is little, let him come to me.” And to the unwise, she has said:

New American Bible
“Let whoever is naive turn in here; to any who lack sense I say,

New Revised Standard Version
“You that are simple, turn in here!” To those without sense she says,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Whosoever is simple, let him come to me; as for him who lacks understanding, she said to him,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Who is simpleminded? Let him come to me, and whoever lacks his mind; And he said to him:
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Whoso is thoughtless, let him turn in hither'; As for him that lacketh understanding, she saith to him:

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Whoso is foolish, let him turn aside to me: and to them that want understanding she says,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Way of Wisdom
3She has sent out her maidservants; she calls out from the heights of the city. 4“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” she says to him who lacks judgment. 5“Come, eat my bread and drink the wine I have mixed.…

Cross References
Matthew 11:28
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Isaiah 55:1
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost!

James 1:5
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Matthew 22:9
Go therefore to the crossroads and invite to the banquet as many as you can find.’

Luke 14:21-23
The servant returned and reported all this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ / ‘Sir,’ the servant replied, ‘what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.’ / So the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.

Revelation 22:17
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let the one who hears say, “Come!” And let the one who is thirsty come, and the one who desires the water of life drink freely.

John 7:37
On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.

1 Corinthians 1:26-27
Brothers, consider the time of your calling: Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth. / But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

Matthew 5:3
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

John 6:35
Jesus answered, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst.

Isaiah 1:18
“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool.

1 Peter 2:9-10
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. / Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Jeremiah 31:3
The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with loving devotion.

Romans 10:13
for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Isaiah 35:8
And there will be a highway called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel it—only those who walk in the Way—and fools will not stray onto it.


Treasury of Scripture

Whoever is simple, let him turn in here: as for him that wants understanding, she said to him,

Proverbs 9:16
Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

Proverbs 1:22
How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

Proverbs 6:32
But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.

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Heart Hither Judgment Lacketh Naive Sense Simple Thoughtless Turn Understanding Void Wanteth
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Proverbs 9
1. The discipline
4. and the doctrine of wisdom
13. The custom
16. and error of folly














Whoever is simple
The Hebrew word for "simple" is "פֶּתִי" (pethi), which refers to someone who is naive or inexperienced. In the context of Proverbs, the "simple" are those who are open to instruction and guidance, yet they are also vulnerable to folly. This term is not derogatory but rather descriptive of a state of openness and potential for growth. The simple are those who have not yet committed to wisdom or folly, and thus, they are at a crossroads. The call to the simple is an invitation to choose the path of wisdom, which is a recurring theme in Proverbs. Historically, wisdom literature often addressed the young and inexperienced, urging them to pursue knowledge and understanding.

let him turn in here!
The phrase "let him turn in here" is an invitation to enter a place of learning and wisdom. The Hebrew verb "סוּר" (sur) means to turn aside or depart from one's current path. This implies a conscious decision to change direction, to leave behind the path of ignorance, and to embrace wisdom. In the ancient Near Eastern context, turning into a house or dwelling was symbolic of seeking refuge, counsel, and sustenance. The imagery here is of Wisdom personified, offering a welcoming and nurturing environment for those who seek her. This invitation is a call to action, urging the simple to make a deliberate choice to pursue wisdom.

To him who lacks judgment
The phrase "lacks judgment" translates from the Hebrew "חֲסַר־לֵב" (chaser-lev), literally meaning "lacking heart." In Hebrew thought, the heart (lev) is the seat of understanding, will, and moral character. Thus, to lack heart is to lack discernment and insight. This condition is not permanent but rather a state that can be remedied through the pursuit of wisdom. The Bible often contrasts those who lack judgment with those who possess it, highlighting the transformative power of wisdom. In the historical context of Proverbs, judgment was highly valued as it was essential for leadership, justice, and righteous living.

she says
The "she" in this verse refers to Wisdom, personified as a woman calling out to the simple and those lacking judgment. This personification is a literary device used throughout Proverbs to make the abstract concept of wisdom more relatable and engaging. Wisdom's voice is authoritative and compassionate, offering guidance and instruction. In the broader scriptural context, Wisdom is often associated with the divine, as seen in passages where wisdom is depicted as being present at creation (Proverbs 8:22-31). This portrayal underscores the belief that true wisdom is rooted in the fear of the Lord and is a divine gift to humanity. The historical use of personification in wisdom literature served to emphasize the accessibility and desirability of wisdom, encouraging the audience to heed her call.

(4) Whoso is simple . . . as for him that wanteth understanding.--So God does not call many "wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble" (1Corinthians 1:26); but chooses the "foolish," "weak," and "base," whom man might overlook; not being willing that any should perish (2Peter 3:9), especially His "little ones" (Matthew 18:14). who are liable to fall through their inexperience and want of judgment.

Verses 4-12. - Here follows the invitation of Wisdom, urging the attendance of guests at the sumptuous banquet which she has prepared (comp. Revelation 19:9). Verse 4. - Whose is simple, lot him turn in hither. This is a direct address to the imprudent and inexperienced (see on Proverbs 7:7), calling them to turn aside from the way on which they are going, and to come to her. Vulgate, si quis est parvulus veniat ad me, which reminds one of Christ's tender words, "It is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish" (Matthew 18:14). As for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him what follows (so ver. 16). Wisdom's own speech is interrupted, and the writer himself introduces this little clause. She calls on the simple and the unwise, both as necessarily needing her teaching, and not yet inveterate in evil, nor wilfully opposed to better guidance. "The world by wisdom knew not God" and he "hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty, and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen" (1 Corinthians 1:21, 26, etc.; comp. Matthew 11:25).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Whoever
מִי־ (mî-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

[is] simple,
פֶ֭תִי (p̄e·ṯî)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6612: Simple, perhaps open-minded

let him turn in
יָסֻ֣ר (yā·sur)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5493: To turn aside

here!”
הֵ֑נָּה (hên·nāh)
Adverb
Strong's 2008: Hither, thither

To him who lacks
חֲסַר־ (ḥă·sar-)
Adjective - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2638: Needy, lacking, in want of

judgment
לֵ֝֗ב (lêḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

she says:
אָ֣מְרָה (’ā·mə·rāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 9:4 Whoever is simple let him turn (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 9:3
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