Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars:
Wisdom has built a house for herself. She has hewn seven columns.
2 She has killed her beasts; she has mingled her wine; she has also furnished her table.
She has immolated her victims. She has mixed her wine and set forth her table.
3 She has sent forth her maidens: she cries on the highest places of the city,
She has sent her maids to call out to the tower and to the fortified walls of the city,
4 Whoever is simple, let him turn in here: as for him that wants understanding, she says to him,
“If anyone is little, let him come to me.” And to the unwise, she has said:
5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
“Approach. Eat my bread, and drink the wine that I have mixed for you.
6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
Leave behind childishness. And live and walk by the ways of prudence.”
7 He that reproves a scorner gets to himself shame: and he that rebukes a wicked man gets himself a blot.
Whoever teaches a mocker causes injury to himself. And whoever argues with the impious produces a blemish on himself.
8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate you: rebuke a wise man, and he will 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 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in 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 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of holiness is prudence.
11 For by me your days shall be multiplied, and the years of your life shall be increased.
For by me, your days will be multiplied and years of life will be added to you.
12 If you be wise, you shall be wise for yourself: but if you scorn, you alone shall bear it.
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 A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knows nothing.
A foolish and loud woman, who is full of enticements and who knows nothing at all,
14 For she sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
sat at the entrance of her house on a seat, in a high place of the city,
15 To call passengers who go right on their ways:
so as to call to those who were passing by the way and continuing on their journey:
16 Whoever is simple, let him turn in here: and as for him that wants understanding, she says to him,
“Whoever is little, let him turn aside to me.” And to the frenzied, she said,
17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
“Stolen waters are more soothing, and secret bread is more pleasant.”
