Proverbs 9:16
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!” And 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: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

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

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

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

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

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

Amplified Bible
“Whoever is naive or inexperienced, let him turn in here!” And to him who lacks understanding (common sense), 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; And as for him that is void of understanding, she saith to him,

Contemporary English Version
"If you are stupid, come on inside!" And to every fool she says,

English Revised Version
Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and 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!" To the foolish she says,

International Standard Version
"Whoever is na�ve, turn in here!" And 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 simple, 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: and 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.” And whoever lacks heart—she said to him,

Young's Literal Translation
Who is simple? let him turn aside hither.' And whoso lacketh heart -- she said to him,

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

Catholic Public Domain Version
“Whoever is little, let him turn aside to me.” And to the frenzied, she said,

New American Bible
“Let those who are naive turn in here, to those who lack sense I say,

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

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Who is it that is simple? Let him come to me, and he that is deficient in his mind. And one says to her:
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Whoso is thoughtless, let him turn in hither'; And as for him that lacketh understanding, she saith to him:

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

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Way of Folly
15calling out to those who pass by, who make their paths straight. 16“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” she says to him who lacks judgment. 17“Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is tasty!”…

Cross References
Proverbs 7:13-15
She seizes him and kisses him; she brazenly says to him: / “I have made my peace offerings; today I have paid my vows. / So I came out to meet you; I sought you, and I have found you.

Proverbs 6:24-26
to keep you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress. / Do not lust in your heart for her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes. / For the levy of the prostitute is poverty, and the adulteress preys upon your very life.

Proverbs 2:16-19
It will rescue you from the forbidden woman, from the stranger with seductive words / who abandons the partner of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God. / For her house sinks down to death, and her tracks to the departed spirits. ...

Proverbs 5:3-6
Though the lips of the forbidden woman drip honey and her speech is smoother than oil, / in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a double-edged sword. / Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to Sheol. ...

Proverbs 7:21-23
With her great persuasion she entices him; with her flattering lips she lures him. / He follows her on impulse, like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer bounding into a trap, / until an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare—not knowing it will cost him his life.

Proverbs 23:27-28
For a prostitute is a deep pit, and an adulteress is a narrow well. / Like a robber she lies in wait and multiplies the faithless among men.

Proverbs 22:14
The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; he who is under the wrath of the LORD will fall into it.

Proverbs 5:20
Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress, or embrace the bosom of a stranger?

Proverbs 7:5
that they may keep you from the adulteress, from the stranger with seductive words.

Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

2 Peter 2:18-19
With lofty but empty words, they appeal to the sensual passions of the flesh and entice those who are just escaping from others who live in error. / They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves to depravity. For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.

1 Timothy 5:6
But she who lives for pleasure is dead even while she is still alive.

2 Timothy 3:6-7
They are the kind who worm their way into households and captivate vulnerable women who are weighed down with sins and led astray by various passions, / who are always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.

Revelation 17:1-2
Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. / The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and those who dwell on the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her immorality.”

James 1:14-15
But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. / Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.


Treasury of Scripture

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

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














Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!
Whoever is simple
The term "simple" in this context is derived from the Hebrew word "pethi," which refers to someone who is naive or lacking in judgment. In the book of Proverbs, the "simple" are often portrayed as those who are easily led astray due to their lack of wisdom and discernment. This call to the simple is an invitation to those who are open to instruction and willing to learn. From a conservative Christian perspective, this highlights the importance of humility and the recognition of one's need for divine wisdom. It is a reminder that God’s wisdom is available to all who seek it, regardless of their current state of understanding.

let him turn in here
The phrase "turn in here" suggests a deliberate action or choice to seek wisdom. In the ancient Near Eastern context, turning into a house or a place of gathering was often associated with seeking counsel or hospitality. This invitation is extended by Wisdom herself, personified in the earlier verses of Proverbs 9, who calls out to those who are willing to leave their simple ways behind. The act of turning signifies repentance and a change of direction, which is a central theme in Christian teaching. It underscores the belief that true wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord and a conscious decision to follow His ways. This call to "turn in" is an open invitation to embrace a life of wisdom, which leads to understanding and ultimately, to life itself.

(16) Whoso is simple . . .--She imitates Wisdom closely in her address: Satan, too, transforms himself into an "angel of light" (2Corinthians 11:14). Folly attracts those undecided characters who are in the right track, but have not the constancy to persevere in it; who, "in time of temptation, fall away."

Verses 16, 17. - These verses contain the invitation which Vice, in imitation of Virtue, and assuming her voice and manner, offers to the wayfarers. Verse 16. - Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither. She uses the very same words which Wisdom utters (ver. 4). The latter had addressed the simple because they were inexperienced and undecided, and might be guided aright; the former now speaks to them because they have not vet made their final choice, can still be swayed by lower considerations, and may be led astray. Such persons find it hard to distinguish between the good and the evil, the false and the true, especially when their sensual appetite is aroused and sides with the temptress. No marvel is it that such are easily deceived; for we are told that, under certain circumstances, Satan transforms himself into an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). That wanteth understanding. This is the other class addressed by Wisdom, and which Folly now solicits, urging them to follow her on the path of pleasure, promising sensual enjoyment and security.

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
וַחֲסַר־ (wa·ḥă·sar-)
Conjunctive waw | 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:
וְאָ֣מְרָה (wə·’ā·mə·rāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 9:16 Whoever is simple let him turn (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 9:15
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