Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom has built a house for herself. She has hewn seven columns.
Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her pillars—seven.
2 She has immolated her victims. She has mixed her wine and set forth her table.
She has slaughtered her slaughter, She has mingled her wine, Indeed, she has arranged her table.
3 She has sent her maids to call out to the tower and to the fortified walls of the city,
She has sent forth her girls, She cries on the tops of the high places of the city:
4 “If anyone is little, let him come to me.” And to the unwise, she has said:
“Who [is] simple? Let him turn aside here.” Whoever lacks heart: she has said to him,
5 “Approach. Eat my bread, and drink the wine that I have mixed for you.
“Come, eat of my bread, And drink of the wine I have mingled.
6 Leave behind childishness. And live and walk by the ways of prudence.”
Forsake the simple and live, And be blessed in the way of understanding.”
7 Whoever teaches a mocker causes injury to himself. And whoever argues with the impious produces a blemish on himself.
The instructor of a scorner Is receiving for it—shame, And a reprover of the wicked—his blemish.
8 Do not be willing to argue with a mocker, lest he hate you. Dispute with the wise, and he will love you.
Do not reprove a scorner, lest he hate you, Give reproof to the wise, and he loves you.
9 Present an opportunity to the wise, and wisdom shall be added to him. Teach the just, and he will hurry to receive it.
Give to the wise, and he is wiser still, Make known to the righteous, And he increases learning.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of holiness is prudence.
The commencement of wisdom [is] the fear of YHWH, And a knowledge of the Holy Ones [is] understanding.
11 For by me, your days will be multiplied and years of life will be added to you.
For by me your days multiply, And years of life are added to you.
12 If you would be wise, you will be so for yourself. But if you would be one who ridicules, you alone shall carry the evil.
If you have been wise, you have been wise for yourself, And you have scorned—you bear [it] alone.
13 A foolish and loud woman, who is full of enticements and who knows nothing at all,
A foolish woman [is] noisy, Simple, and has not known what.
14 sat at the entrance of her house on a seat, in a high place of the city,
And she has sat at the opening of her house, On a throne—the high places of the city,
15 so as to call to those who were passing by the way and continuing on their journey:
To call to those passing by the way, Who are going straight [on] their paths.
16 “Whoever is little, let him turn aside to me.” And to the frenzied, she said,
“Who [is] simple? Let him turn aside here.” And whoever lacks heart—she said to him,
17 “Stolen waters are more soothing, and secret bread is more pleasant.”
“Stolen waters are sweet, And hidden bread is pleasant.”
