Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom has built her house; she has prepared its seven pillars.
Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her 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; she has also furnished 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 maidens: she cries on the highest places of the city,
4 “Everybody who needs to learn, come and see me!” To people who don't have any sense she says,
Whoever is simple, let him turn in here: as for him that wants understanding, she says to him,
5 “Come, eat my food, and drink the wine I have mixed.
Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
6 Leave your foolish ways and you will live; follow the path that makes sense.”
Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
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 a scorner gets to himself shame: and he that rebukes a wicked man gets himself a blot.
8 So don't argue with mockers or they'll only hate you; argue with the wise and they'll love you.
Reprove not a scorner, lest he 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 instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
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 knowledge of the holy is understanding.
11 Through wisdom you'll have many more days, increasing the years of your life.
For by me your days shall be multiplied, and the years of your life shall be increased.
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 be wise, you shall be wise for yourself: but if you scorn, you alone shall bear it.
13 Stupidity is like a loud, ignorant woman who doesn't know anything.
A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knows nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the town,
For she sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
15 calling out to those passing by, going about their business,
To call passengers who go right on their ways:
16 “Everybody who needs to learn, come and see me!” To people who don't have any sense she says,
Whoever is simple, let him turn in here: and as for him that wants understanding, she says to him,
17 “Stolen water is sweet, and food eaten in secret tastes good!”
Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
