Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom hath built her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars;
Wisdom has built her own house; she has carved seven pillars out of rocks.
2 she hath slaughtered her cattle, she hath mingled her wine, she hath also prepared her table;
She has slaughtered her animals; 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 maids; she calls out from the highest points of the city,
4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither. To him that is void of understanding, she saith,
“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 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 naive actions and live; walk in the path of understanding.
7 He that instructeth a scorner getteth to himself shame; and he that reproveth a wicked [man] [getteth] to himself a blot.
Whoever disciplines a mocker receives abuse, and whoever rebukes a wicked person receives insults.
8 Reprove not a scorner, 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 Impart to a wise [man], and he will become yet wiser; teach a righteous [man], and he will increase 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 intelligence.
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 years of life shall be added to thee.
For through me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you.
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 wise for yourself, and if you mock, you will carry it by yourself.”
13 The foolish woman is clamorous; she is stupid, and knoweth nothing.
The woman of foolishness is ignorant; she is untaught and knows nothing.
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 highest places of the town.
15 to call passers-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 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither. And to him that is void of understanding she saith,
“Let anyone who is naive turn aside here,” she says to those who have no sense.
17 Stolen waters are sweet, and the bread of secrecy is pleasant.
“Stolen waters are sweet, and bread of secrecy is delicious.”
