Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her pillars—seven.
Wisdom hath built herself a house, she hath hewn her out seven pillars.
2 She has slaughtered her slaughter, She has mingled her wine, Indeed, she has arranged her table.
She hath slain her victims, mingled 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 hath sent her maids to invite to the tower, and to the walls of the city:
4 “Who [is] simple? Let him turn aside here.” Whoever lacks heart: she has said to him,
Whosoever is a little one, let him come to me. And to the unwise she said:
5 “Come, eat of my bread, And drink of the wine I have mingled.
Come, eat my bread, and drink the wine which I have mingled for you.
6 Forsake the simple and live, And be blessed in the way of understanding.”
Forsake 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.
He that teacheth a scorner, doth an injury to himself: and he that rebuketh a wicked man, getteth himself a blot.
8 Do not reprove a scorner, lest he hate you, Give reproof to the wise, and he loves you.
Rebuke not a scorner lest he hate thee. Rebuke 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 an occasion to a wise man, and wisdom shall be added to him. Teach a just man, and he shall make haste 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 the knowledge of the holy is prudence.
11 For by me your days multiply, And years of life are added to you.
For by me shall thy days be multiplied, and years of life shall be added to thee.
12 If you have been wise, you have been wise for yourself, And you have scorned—you bear [it] alone.
If thou be wise, thou shalt be so to thyself: and if a scorner, thou alone shalt bear the evil.
13 A foolish woman [is] noisy, Simple, and has not known what.
A foolish woman and clamorous, and full of allurements, and knowing 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 door of her house, upon 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.
To call them that pass by the way, and go on their journey:
16 “Who [is] simple? Let him turn aside here.” And whoever lacks heart—she said to him,
He that is a little one, let him turn to me. And to the fool she said:
17 “Stolen waters are sweet, And hidden bread is pleasant.”
Stolen waters are sweeter, and hid den bread is more pleasant.
