Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom has built her house. She has carved out her seven pillars.
Wisdom hath builded her house; She hath hewn out her seven pillars.
2 She has prepared her meat. She has mixed her wine. She has also set her table.
She hath killed her fatlings; She hath mingled her wine; Yea, she hath furnished her table.
3 She has sent out her maidens. She cries from the highest places of the city:
She hath sent forth her maidens; She crieth aloud upon the highest places of the city:
4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in hither!” To him that is void of understanding she saith,
5 “Come, eat some of my bread, Drink some of the wine which I have mixed!
“Come, eat of my bread, And drink of the wine which I have mingled!
6 Leave your simple ways, and live. Walk in the way of understanding.”
Forsake folly, and live! And go forward in the way of understanding!
7 One who corrects a mocker invites insult. One who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.
“He who correcteth a scoffer Bringeth shame upon himself; And he who rebuketh the wicked Bringeth upon himself a stain.
8 Do not reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you. Reprove a wise person, and he will love you.
Rebuke not a scoffer, lest he hate thee; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
9 Instruct a wise person, and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous person, and he will increase in learning.
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser; Teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning.
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Most Holy is understanding.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied. The years of your life will be increased.
Yea, through me thy days shall be multiplied, And the years of thy life shall be increased.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself. If you mock, you alone will bear it.
If thou art wise, thou art wise for thyself; And if thou art a scoffer, thou alone must bear it.”
13 The foolish woman is loud, undisciplined, and knows nothing.
The foolish woman is clamorous; She is very simple, and careth for nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
She sitteth at the door of her house, Upon a seat in the high places of the city,
15 to call to those who pass by, who go straight on their ways,
To call aloud to those that pass by, Who go straight forward in their ways,
16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here.” As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in hither!” And to him that is void of understanding she saith,
17 “Stolen water is sweet. Food eaten in secret is pleasant.”
“Stolen water is sweet, And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
