Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom has built her house; she has prepared its seven pillars.
Wisdom has built a house for herself. She has hewn seven columns.
2 She has slaughtered her animals for meat; she has mixed her wine; and she has set her table.
She has immolated her victims. She has mixed her wine and set forth 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 her maids to call out to the tower and to the fortified walls of the city,
4 “Everybody who needs to learn, come and see me!” To people who don't have any sense she says,
“If anyone is little, let him come to me.” And to the unwise, she has said:
5 “Come, eat my food, and drink the wine I have mixed.
“Approach. Eat my bread, and drink the wine that I have mixed for you.
6 Leave your foolish ways and you will live; follow the path that makes sense.”
Leave behind childishness. And live and walk by the ways of prudence.”
7 If you correct a mocker all you get are insults; if you argue with the wicked all you get is abuse.
Whoever teaches a mocker causes injury to himself. And whoever argues with the impious produces a blemish on himself.
8 So don't argue with mockers or they'll only hate you; argue with the wise and they'll love you.
Do not be willing to argue with a mocker, lest he hate you. Dispute with the wise, 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.
Present an opportunity to the wise, and wisdom shall be added to him. Teach the just, and he will hurry to receive it.
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 knowledge of holiness is prudence.
11 Through wisdom you'll have many more days, increasing the years of your life.
For by me, your days will be multiplied and years of life will 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.
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.
13 Stupidity is like a loud, ignorant woman who doesn't know anything.
A foolish and loud woman, who is full of enticements and who knows nothing at all,
14 She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the town,
sat at the entrance of her house on a seat, in a high place of the city,
15 calling out to those passing by, going about their business,
so as to call to those who were passing by the way and continuing on their journey:
16 “Everybody who needs to learn, come and see me!” To people who don't have any sense she says,
“Whoever is little, let him turn aside to me.” And to the frenzied, she said,
17 “Stolen water is sweet, and food eaten in secret tastes good!”
“Stolen waters are more soothing, and secret bread is more pleasant.”
