Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom has built her house; she has prepared its seven pillars.
Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath 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 hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath 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 hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon 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,
Whoso [is] simple, let him turn in hither: [as for] him that wanteth understanding, she saith 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 reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked [man getteth] 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 thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
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 thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy 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 thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but [if] thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear [it].
13 Stupidity is like a loud, ignorant woman who doesn't know anything.
A foolish woman [is] clamorous: [she is] simple, and knoweth nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the town,
For she sitteth 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,
Whoso [is] simple, let him turn in hither: and [as for] him that wanteth understanding, she saith 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.
