< Proverbs 9 >
1 Wisdom hath built her house; she hath hewn out her seven pillars;
Wisdom hath builded her house; She hath hewn out her seven pillars.
2 She hath killed her cattle; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also set in order her table.
She hath killed her fatlings; She hath mingled her wine; Yea, she hath furnished her table.
3 She hath sent forth her maidens: she inviteth [her guests] upon the top of the highest places of the town.
She hath sent forth her maidens; She crieth aloud upon the highest places of the city:
4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that is void of sense, she saith to him,
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in hither!” To him that is void of understanding she saith,
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 simplicity, and live; and go onward on the way of understanding.
Forsake folly, and live! And go forward in the way of understanding!
7 He that correcteth a scorner acquireth for himself abuse; and he that reproveth the wicked getteth himself a blemish.
“He who correcteth a scoffer Bringeth shame upon himself; And he who rebuketh the wicked Bringeth upon himself a stain.
8 Do not correct a scorner, lest he hate thee: reprove a wise man, and he will love thee.
Rebuke not a scoffer, lest he hate thee; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
9 Give to the wise [instruction], and he will become yet wiser: impart knowledge to the righteous, and he will increase his information.
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser; Teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning.
10 The commencement of wisdom is the fear of the Lord; and the knowledge of the Most Holy One is understanding.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Most Holy is understanding.
11 For through me shall thy days be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased unto thee.
Yea, through me thy days shall be multiplied, And the years of thy life shall be increased.
12 If thou art become wise, thou art wise for thyself; but if thou art a scorner, thou alone wilt have to bear it.”
If thou art wise, thou art wise for thyself; And if thou art a scoffer, thou alone must bear it.”
13 The woman of folly is noisy: she is simple, and knoweth not what [to do].
The foolish woman is clamorous; She is very simple, and careth for nothing.
14 And she sitteth at the door of her house, upon a chair in the high places of the town.
She sitteth at the door of her house, Upon a seat in the high places of the city,
15 To call the wayfarers who go straight forward on their paths.
To call aloud to those that pass by, Who go straight forward in their ways,
16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither; and as for him that is void of sense, she saith to him,
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in hither!” And to him that is void of understanding she saith,
17 “Stolen waters are sweet, and bread of secrecy is pleasant.”
“Stolen water is sweet, And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 But he knoweth not that the departed are there; that in the depths of the nether world are her guests. (Sheol )
But he considereth not that the dead are there, That in the vales of the under-world are her guests. (Sheol )