Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom hath built 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 cattle; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also set in order 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 inviteth [her guests] upon the top of the highest places of the town.
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 is void of sense, 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 simplicity, and live; and go onward on the way of understanding.
Leave your naive actions and live; walk in the path of understanding.
7 He that correcteth a scorner acquireth for himself abuse; and he that reproveth the wicked getteth himself a blemish.
Whoever disciplines a mocker receives abuse, and whoever rebukes a wicked person receives insults.
8 Do not correct a scorner, lest he hate thee: reprove 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 to the wise [instruction], and he will become yet wiser: impart knowledge to the righteous, and he will increase his information.
Give to a wise person, and he will become even wiser; teach a righteous person, and he will add to 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 Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For through me shall thy days be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased unto thee.
For through me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you.
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 you are wise, you are wise for yourself, and if you mock, you will carry it by yourself.”
13 The woman of folly is noisy: she is simple, and knoweth not what [to do].
The woman of foolishness is ignorant; she is untaught and knows nothing.
14 And she sitteth at the door of her house, upon a chair in the high places of the town.
She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the highest places of the town.
15 To call the wayfarers who go straight forward on their paths.
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 is void of sense, 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 of secrecy is pleasant.”
“Stolen waters are sweet, and bread of secrecy is delicious.”
