Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom has built her house. She has hewn out her seven pillars.
Wisdom has built her own house; she has carved seven pillars out of rocks.
2 She has killed her beasts. She has mingled her wine. She has also furnished her table.
She has slaughtered her animals; she has mixed her wine; and she has set her table.
3 She has sent forth her maidens. She cries out upon the highest places of the city:
She has sent out her maids; she calls out from the highest points of the city,
4 He who is simple, let him turn in here. As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
“Who is naive? Let him turn aside here!” To the one lacking good sense she speaks.
5 Come, eat ye of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
“Come, eat my food, and drink the wine I have mixed.
6 Forsake ye simpleness, and live, and walk in the way of understanding.
Leave your naive actions and live; walk in the path of understanding.
7 He who corrects a scoffer gets himself reviling. And he who reproves a wicked man gets himself a bruise.
Whoever disciplines a mocker receives abuse, and whoever rebukes a wicked person receives insults.
8 Reprove not a scoffer, lest he hate thee. Reprove a wise man, and he will love thee.
Do not reprove a mocker, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
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 a wise person, and he will become even wiser; teach a righteous person, and he will add to his learning.
10 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding.
The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the 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 your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you.
12 If thou are wise, thou are wise for thyself. And if thou scoff, thou alone shall bear it.
If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, and if you mock, you will carry it by yourself.”
13 The foolish woman is clamorous, simple, and knows nothing.
The woman of foolishness is ignorant; she is untaught and knows nothing.
14 And she sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the highest places of the town.
15 to call to those who pass by, who go right on their ways:
She is calling out to those who pass by in the streets, to people walking straight on their way.
16 He who is simple, let him turn in here. And as for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
“Let anyone who is naive turn aside here,” she says to those who have no sense.
17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread in secret is pleasant.
“Stolen waters are sweet, and bread of secrecy is delicious.”
