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 and mixed her wine; she has also set her table.
She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.
3 She has sent out her maidservants; she calls out from the heights of the city.
She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,
4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” she says to him who lacks judgment.
Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
5 “Come, eat my bread and drink the wine I have mixed.
Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
6 Leave your folly behind, and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.”
Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
7 He who corrects a mocker brings shame on himself; he who rebukes a wicked man taints himself.
He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
8 Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
9 Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning.
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
11 For through wisdom your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.
For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.
12 If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage; but if you scoff, you alone will bear the consequences.
If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.
13 The woman named Folly is loud; she is naive and knows nothing.
A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the heights of the city,
For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
15 calling out to those who pass by, who make their paths straight.
To call passengers who go right on their ways:
16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” she says to him who lacks judgment.
Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
17 “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is tasty!”
Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
