Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom has built her house; she has prepared its seven pillars.
Wisdom has built a house for herself, and set up seven pillars.
2 She has slaughtered her animals for meat; she has mixed her wine; and she has set her table.
She has killed her beasts; she has mingled her wine in a bowl, and prepared her table.
3 She has sent out her servant girls with invitations. She calls out from the highest places of the town,
She has sent forth her servants, calling with a loud proclamation to the feast, saying,
4 “Everybody who needs to learn, come and see me!” To people who don't have any sense she says,
Whoso is foolish, let him turn aside to me: and to them that lack understanding she says,
5 “Come, eat my food, and drink the wine I have mixed.
Come, eat of my bread, and drink wine which I have mingled for you.
6 Leave your foolish ways and you will live; follow the path that makes sense.”
Leave folly, that you may reign for ever; and seek wisdom, and improve understanding by knowledge.
7 If you correct a mocker all you get are insults; if you argue with the wicked all you get is abuse.
He that reproves evil [men] shall get dishonour to himself; and he that rebukes an ungodly [man] shall disgrace himself.
8 So don't argue with mockers or they'll only hate you; argue with the wise and they'll love you.
Rebuke not evil [men], lest they should hate you: rebuke a wise [man], and he will love you.
9 Educate the wise and they'll become even wiser; teach those who live right and they will increase their learning.
Give an opportunity to a wise [man], and he will be wiser: instruct a just man, and he will receive more [instruction].
10 Honoring the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; knowledge of the Holy One brings insight.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the counsel of saints is understanding: for to know the law is [the character] of a sound mind.
11 Through wisdom you'll have many more days, increasing the years of your life.
For in this way you shall live long, and years of your life shall be added to you.
12 If you are wise, you are the one to profit from it; if you scoff, you alone will have to suffer the consequences.
Son, if you be wise for yourself, you shall also be wise for your neighbours; and if you should prove wicked, you alone will bear the evil. He that stays himself upon falsehoods, attempts to rule the winds, and the same will pursue birds in their fight: for he has forsaken the ways of his own vineyard, and he has caused the axles of his own husbandry to go astray; and he goes through a dry desert, and a [land] appointed to drought, and he gathers barrenness with his hands.
13 Stupidity is like a loud, ignorant woman who doesn't know anything.
A foolish and bold woman, who knows not modesty, comes to lack a morsel.
14 She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the town,
She sits at the doors of her house, on a seat openly in the streets,
15 calling out to those passing by, going about their business,
calling to passers by, and to those that are going right on their ways;
16 “Everybody who needs to learn, come and see me!” To people who don't have any sense she says,
[saying], Whoso is most senseless of you, let him turn aside to me; and I exhort those that lack prudence, saying,
17 “Stolen water is sweet, and food eaten in secret tastes good!”
Take and enjoy secret bread, and the sweet water of theft.
