Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom has built her house. She has hewn out her seven pillars.
Wisdom hath built her house; she hath hewn out her seven pillars;
2 She has killed her beasts. She has mingled her wine. She has also furnished her table.
She hath killed her cattle; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also set in order her table.
3 She has sent forth her maidens. She cries out upon the highest places of the city:
She hath sent forth her maidens: she inviteth [her guests] upon the top of the highest places of the town.
4 He who is simple, let him turn in here. As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that is void of sense, she saith to him,
5 Come, eat ye of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
“Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
6 Forsake ye simpleness, and live, and walk in the way of understanding.
Forsake simplicity, and live; and go onward on the way of understanding.
7 He who corrects a scoffer gets himself reviling. And he who reproves a wicked man gets himself a bruise.
He that correcteth a scorner acquireth for himself abuse; and he that reproveth the wicked getteth himself a blemish.
8 Reprove not a scoffer, lest he hate thee. Reprove a wise man, and he will love thee.
Do not correct a scorner, lest he hate thee: reprove a wise man, and he will love thee.
9 Give opportunity to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser. Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
Give to the wise [instruction], and he will become yet wiser: impart knowledge to the righteous, and he will increase his information.
10 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding.
The commencement of wisdom is the fear of the Lord; and the knowledge of the Most Holy One is understanding.
11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.
For through me shall thy days be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased unto thee.
12 If thou are wise, thou are wise for thyself. And if thou scoff, thou alone shall bear it.
If thou art become wise, thou art wise for thyself; but if thou art a scorner, thou alone wilt have to bear it.”
13 The foolish woman is clamorous, simple, and knows nothing.
The woman of folly is noisy: she is simple, and knoweth not what [to do].
14 And she sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
And she sitteth at the door of her house, upon a chair in the high places of the town.
15 to call to those who pass by, who go right on their ways:
To call the wayfarers who go straight forward on their paths.
16 He who is simple, let him turn in here. And as for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither; and as for him that is void of sense, she saith to him,
17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread in secret is pleasant.
“Stolen waters are sweet, and bread of secrecy is pleasant.”
