< Proverbs 9 >
1 Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars:
Wisdom hath built her house; she hath hewn out her seven pillars;
2 She has killed her beasts; she has mingled her wine; she has also furnished her table.
She hath killed her cattle; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also set in order her table.
3 She has sent forth her maidens: she cries on the highest places of the city,
She hath sent forth her maidens: she inviteth [her guests] upon the top of the highest places of the town.
4 Whoever is simple, let him turn in here: as for him that wants understanding, she says to him,
Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that is void of sense, she saith to him,
5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
“Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
Forsake simplicity, and live; and go onward on the way of understanding.
7 He that reproves a scorner gets to himself shame: and he that rebukes a wicked man gets himself a blot.
He that correcteth a scorner acquireth for himself abuse; and he that reproveth the wicked getteth himself a blemish.
8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate you: rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
Do not correct a scorner, lest he hate thee: reprove a wise man, and he will love thee.
9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
Give to the wise [instruction], and he will become yet wiser: impart knowledge to the righteous, and he will increase his information.
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
The commencement of wisdom is the fear of the Lord; and the knowledge of the Most Holy One is understanding.
11 For by me your days shall be multiplied, and the years of your life shall be increased.
For through me shall thy days be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased unto thee.
12 If you be wise, you shall be wise for yourself: but if you scorn, you alone shall bear it.
If thou art become wise, thou art wise for thyself; but if thou art a scorner, thou alone wilt have to bear it.”
13 A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knows nothing.
The woman of folly is noisy: she is simple, and knoweth not what [to do].
14 For she sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
And she sitteth at the door of her house, upon a chair in the high places of the town.
15 To call passengers who go right on their ways:
To call the wayfarers who go straight forward on their paths.
16 Whoever is simple, let him turn in here: and as for him that wants understanding, she says to him,
Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither; and as for him that is void of sense, she saith to him,
17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
“Stolen waters are sweet, and bread of secrecy is pleasant.”
18 But he knows not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell. (Sheol )
But he knoweth not that the departed are there; that in the depths of the nether world are her guests. (Sheol )