Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:
Wisdom has built her own house; she has carved seven pillars out of rocks.
2 She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.
She has slaughtered her animals; she has mixed her wine; and she has set her table.
3 She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,
She has sent out her maids; she calls out from the highest points of the city,
4 Whoso [is] simple, let him turn in hither: [as for] him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
“Who is naive? Let him turn aside here!” To the one lacking good sense she speaks.
5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine [which] I have mingled.
“Come, eat my food, and drink the wine I have mixed.
6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
Leave your naive actions and live; walk in the path of understanding.
7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked [man getteth] himself a blot.
Whoever disciplines a mocker receives abuse, and whoever rebukes a wicked person receives insults.
8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
Do not reprove a mocker, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, 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.
Give to a wise person, and he will become even wiser; teach a righteous person, and he will add to his learning.
10 The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy [is] understanding.
The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.
For through me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you.
12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but [if] thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear [it].
If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, and if you mock, you will carry it by yourself.”
13 A foolish woman [is] clamorous: [she is] simple, and knoweth nothing.
The woman of foolishness is ignorant; she is untaught and knows nothing.
14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the highest places of the town.
15 To call passengers who go right on their ways:
She is calling out to those who pass by in the streets, to people walking straight on their way.
16 Whoso [is] simple, let him turn in hither: and [as for] him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
“Let anyone who is naive turn aside here,” she says to those who have no sense.
17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread [eaten] in secret is pleasant.
“Stolen waters are sweet, and bread of secrecy is delicious.”
