< Proverbs 9 >
1 Wisdom has built a house for herself, and set up seven pillars.
Wisedome hath built her house, and hewen out her seuen pillars.
2 She has killed her beasts; she has mingled her wine in a bowl, and prepared her table.
She hath killed her vitailes, drawen her wine, and prepared her table.
3 She has sent forth her servants, calling with a loud proclamation to the feast, saying,
She hath sent forth her maydens and cryeth vpon the highest places of the citie, saying,
4 Whoso is foolish, let him turn aside to me: and to them that lack understanding she says,
Who so is simple, let him come hither, and to him that is destitute of wisedome, she sayth,
5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink wine which I have mingled for you.
Come, and eate of my meate, and drinke of the wine that I haue drawen.
6 Leave folly, that you may reign for ever; and seek wisdom, and improve understanding by knowledge.
Forsake your way, ye foolish, and ye shall liue: and walke in the way of vnderstanding.
7 He that reproves evil [men] shall get dishonor to himself; and he that rebukes an ungodly [man] shall disgrace himself.
He that reproueth a scorner, purchaseth to himselfe shame: and he that rebuketh the wicked, getteth himselfe a blot.
8 Rebuke not evil [men], lest they should hate you: rebuke a wise [man], and he will love you.
Rebuke not a scorner, least he hate thee: but rebuke a wise man, and he will loue thee.
9 Give an opportunity to a wise [man], and he will be wiser: instruct a just man, and he will receive more [instruction].
Giue admonition to the wise, and he will be the wiser: teache a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the counsel of saints is understanding: for to know the law is [the character] of a sound mind.
The beginning of wisedome is the feare of the Lord, and the knowledge of holy things, is vnderstanding.
11 For in this way you shall live long, and years of your life shall be added to you.
For thy dayes shalbe multiplied by me, and the yeeres of thy life shalbe augmented.
12 Son, if you be wise for yourself, you shall also be wise for your neighbors; and if you should prove wicked, you alone will bear the evil. He that stays himself upon falsehoods, attempts to rule the winds, and the same will pursue birds in their fight: for he has forsaken the ways of his own vineyard, and he has caused the axles of his own husbandry to go astray; and he goes through a dry desert, and a [land] appointed to drought, and he gathers barrenness with his hands.
If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thy selfe, and if thou be a scorner, thou alone shalt suffer.
13 A foolish and bold woman, who knows not modesty, comes to lack a morsel.
A foolish woman is troublesome: she is ignorant, and knoweth nothing.
14 She sits at the doors of her house, on a seat openly in the streets,
But she sitteth at the doore of her house on a seate in the hie places of the citie,
15 calling to passers by, and to those that are going right on their ways;
To call them that passe by the way, that go right on their way, saying,
16 [saying], Whoso is most senseless of you, let him turn aside to me; and I exhort those that lack prudence, saying,
Who so is simple, let him come hither, and to him that is destitute of wisedome, shee sayth also,
17 Take and enjoy secret bread, and the sweet water of theft.
Stollen waters are sweete, and hid bread is pleasant.
18 But he knows that mighty men die by her, and he falls in with a snare of hell. (Sheol )
But he knoweth not, that ye dead are there, and that her ghestes are in the depth of hell. (Sheol )