Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her pillars—seven.
Wisdom has built her house; she has carved out her seven pillars.
2 She has slaughtered her slaughter, She has mingled her wine, Indeed, she has arranged her table.
She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table.
3 She has sent forth her girls, She cries on the tops of the high places of the city:
She has sent out her maidservants; she calls out from the heights of the city.
4 “Who [is] simple? Let him turn aside here.” Whoever lacks heart: she has said to him,
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” she says to him who lacks judgment.
5 “Come, eat of my bread, And drink of the wine I have mingled.
“Come, eat my bread and drink the wine I have mixed.
6 Forsake the simple and live, And be blessed in the way of understanding.”
Leave your folly behind, and you will live; 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 mocker brings shame on himself; he who rebukes a wicked man taints himself.
8 Do not reprove a scorner, lest he hate you, Give reproof to the wise, and he loves you.
Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
9 Give to the wise, and he is wiser still, Make known to the righteous, And he increases learning.
Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning.
10 The commencement of wisdom [is] the fear of YHWH, And a knowledge of the Holy Ones [is] understanding.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For by me your days multiply, And years of life are added to you.
For through wisdom your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.
12 If you have been wise, you have been wise for yourself, And you have scorned—you bear [it] alone.
If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage; but if you scoff, you alone will bear the consequences.
13 A foolish woman [is] noisy, Simple, and has not known what.
The woman named Folly is loud; she is naive and knows nothing.
14 And she has sat at the opening of her house, On a throne—the high places of the city,
She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the heights of the city,
15 To call to those passing by the way, Who are going straight [on] their paths.
calling out to those who pass by, who make their paths straight.
16 “Who [is] simple? Let him turn aside here.” And whoever lacks heart—she said to him,
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” she says to him who lacks judgment.
17 “Stolen waters are sweet, And hidden bread is pleasant.”
“Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is tasty!”
