Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her pillars—seven.
Wisdom has built a house for herself. She has hewn seven columns.
2 She has slaughtered her slaughter, She has mingled her wine, Indeed, she has arranged her table.
She has immolated her victims. She has mixed her wine and set forth her table.
3 She has sent forth her girls, She cries on the tops of the high places of the city:
She has sent her maids to call out to the tower and to the fortified walls of the city,
4 “Who [is] simple? Let him turn aside here.” Whoever lacks heart: she has said to him,
“If anyone is little, let him come to me.” And to the unwise, she has said:
5 “Come, eat of my bread, And drink of the wine I have mingled.
“Approach. Eat my bread, and drink the wine that I have mixed for you.
6 Forsake the simple and live, And be blessed in the way of understanding.”
Leave behind childishness. And live and walk by the ways of prudence.”
7 The instructor of a scorner Is receiving for it—shame, And a reprover of the wicked—his blemish.
Whoever teaches a mocker causes injury to himself. And whoever argues with the impious produces a blemish on himself.
8 Do not reprove a scorner, lest he hate you, Give reproof to the wise, and he loves you.
Do not be willing to argue with a mocker, lest he hate you. Dispute with the wise, and he will love you.
9 Give to the wise, and he is wiser still, Make known to the righteous, And he increases learning.
Present an opportunity to the wise, and wisdom shall be added to him. Teach the just, and he will hurry to receive it.
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 holiness is prudence.
11 For by me your days multiply, And years of life are added to you.
For by me, your days will be multiplied and years of life will be added to you.
12 If you have been wise, you have been wise for yourself, And you have scorned—you bear [it] alone.
If you would be wise, you will be so for yourself. But if you would be one who ridicules, you alone shall carry the evil.
13 A foolish woman [is] noisy, Simple, and has not known what.
A foolish and loud woman, who is full of enticements and who knows nothing at all,
14 And she has sat at the opening of her house, On a throne—the high places of the city,
sat at the entrance of her house on a seat, in a high place of the city,
15 To call to those passing by the way, Who are going straight [on] their paths.
so as to call to those who were passing by the way and continuing on their journey:
16 “Who [is] simple? Let him turn aside here.” And whoever lacks heart—she said to him,
“Whoever is little, let him turn aside to me.” And to the frenzied, she said,
17 “Stolen waters are sweet, And hidden bread is pleasant.”
“Stolen waters are more soothing, and secret bread is more pleasant.”
