Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her pillars—seven.
Wisdom has built a house for herself, and set up 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 in a bowl, and prepared 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 servants, calling with a loud proclamation to the feast, saying,
4 “Who [is] simple? Let him turn aside here.” Whoever lacks heart: she has said to him,
Whoso is foolish, let him turn aside to me: and to them that lack understanding she says,
5 “Come, eat of my bread, And drink of the wine I have mingled.
Come, eat of my bread, and drink wine which I have mingled for you.
6 Forsake the simple and live, And be blessed in the way of understanding.”
Leave folly, that you may reign for ever; and seek wisdom, and improve understanding by knowledge.
7 The instructor of a scorner Is receiving for it—shame, And a reprover of the wicked—his blemish.
He that reproves evil [men] shall get dishonour to himself; and he that rebukes an ungodly [man] shall disgrace himself.
8 Do not reprove a scorner, lest he hate you, Give reproof to the wise, and he loves you.
Rebuke not evil [men], lest they should 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.
Give an opportunity to a wise [man], and he will be wiser: instruct a just man, and he will receive more [instruction].
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 the counsel of saints is understanding: for to know the law is [the character] of a sound mind.
11 For by me your days multiply, And years of life are added to you.
For in this way you shall live long, and years of your life shall be added to you.
12 If you have been wise, you have been wise for yourself, And you have scorned—you bear [it] alone.
Son, if you be wise for yourself, you shall also be wise for your neighbours; 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.
13 A foolish woman [is] noisy, Simple, and has not known what.
A foolish and bold woman, who knows not modesty, comes to lack a morsel.
14 And she has sat at the opening of her house, On a throne—the high places of the city,
She sits at the doors of her house, on a seat openly in the streets,
15 To call to those passing by the way, Who are going straight [on] their paths.
calling to passers by, and to those that are going right on their ways;
16 “Who [is] simple? Let him turn aside here.” And whoever lacks heart—she said to him,
[saying], Whoso is most senseless of you, let him turn aside to me; and I exhort those that lack prudence, saying,
17 “Stolen waters are sweet, And hidden bread is pleasant.”
Take and enjoy secret bread, and the sweet water of theft.
