Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her pillars—seven.
Wisdom has built her house. She has hewn out her seven pillars.
2 She has slaughtered her slaughter, She has mingled her wine, Indeed, she has arranged her table.
She has killed her beasts. She has mingled her wine. She has also furnished her table.
3 She has sent forth her girls, She cries on the tops of the high places of the city:
She has sent forth her maidens. She cries out upon the highest places of the city:
4 “Who [is] simple? Let him turn aside here.” Whoever lacks heart: she has said to him,
He who is simple, let him turn in here. As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
5 “Come, eat of my bread, And drink of the wine I have mingled.
Come, eat ye of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
6 Forsake the simple and live, And be blessed in the way of understanding.”
Forsake ye simpleness, and live, and walk in the way of understanding.
7 The instructor of a scorner Is receiving for it—shame, And a reprover of the wicked—his blemish.
He who corrects a scoffer gets himself reviling. And he who reproves a wicked man gets himself a bruise.
8 Do not reprove a scorner, lest he hate you, Give reproof to the wise, and he loves you.
Reprove not a scoffer, lest he hate thee. Reprove a wise man, and he will love thee.
9 Give to the wise, and he is wiser still, Make known to the righteous, And he increases learning.
Give opportunity to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser. Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
10 The commencement of wisdom [is] the fear of YHWH, And a knowledge of the Holy Ones [is] understanding.
The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding.
11 For by me your days multiply, And years of life are added to you.
For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.
12 If you have been wise, you have been wise for yourself, And you have scorned—you bear [it] alone.
If thou are wise, thou are wise for thyself. And if thou scoff, thou alone shall bear it.
13 A foolish woman [is] noisy, Simple, and has not known what.
The foolish woman is clamorous, simple, and knows nothing.
14 And she has sat at the opening of her house, On a throne—the high places of the city,
And she sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
15 To call to those passing by the way, Who are going straight [on] their paths.
to call to those who pass by, who go right on their ways:
16 “Who [is] simple? Let him turn aside here.” And whoever lacks heart—she said to him,
He who is simple, let him turn in here. And as for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
17 “Stolen waters are sweet, And hidden bread is pleasant.”
Stolen waters are sweet, and bread in secret is pleasant.
