Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom hath built her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars;
Wisdom has built her house; she has prepared its seven pillars.
2 she hath slaughtered her cattle, she hath mingled her wine, she hath also prepared her table;
She has slaughtered her animals for meat; she has mixed her wine; and she has set her table.
3 she hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the summits of the high places of the city,
She has sent out her servant girls with invitations. She calls out from the highest places of the town,
4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither. To him that is void of understanding, she saith,
“Everybody who needs to learn, come and see me!” To people who don't have any sense she says,
5 Come, eat ye of my bread, and drink of the wine that I have mingled.
“Come, eat my food, and drink the wine I have mixed.
6 Forsake follies and live, and go in the way of intelligence.
Leave your foolish ways and you will live; follow the path that makes sense.”
7 He that instructeth a scorner getteth to himself shame; and he that reproveth a wicked [man] [getteth] to himself a blot.
If you correct a mocker all you get are insults; if you argue with the wicked all you get is abuse.
8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee; reprove a wise [man], and he will love thee.
So don't argue with mockers or they'll only hate you; argue with the wise and they'll love you.
9 Impart to a wise [man], and he will become yet wiser; teach a righteous [man], and he will increase learning.
Educate the wise and they'll become even wiser; teach those who live right and they will increase their learning.
10 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the Holy is intelligence.
Honoring the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; knowledge of the Holy One brings insight.
11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and years of life shall be added to thee.
Through wisdom you'll have many more days, increasing the years of your life.
12 If thou art wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself; and if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.
If you are wise, you are the one to profit from it; if you scoff, you alone will have to suffer the consequences.
13 The foolish woman is clamorous; she is stupid, and knoweth nothing.
Stupidity is like a loud, ignorant woman who doesn't know anything.
14 And she sitteth at the entry 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 high places of the town,
15 to call passers-by who go right on their ways:
calling out to those passing by, going about their business,
16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither. And to him that is void of understanding she saith,
“Everybody who needs to learn, come and see me!” To people who don't have any sense she says,
17 Stolen waters are sweet, and the bread of secrecy is pleasant.
“Stolen water is sweet, and food eaten in secret tastes good!”
