Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her pillars—seven.
Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:
2 She has slaughtered her slaughter, She has mingled her wine, Indeed, she has arranged her table.
She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.
3 She has sent forth her girls, She cries on the tops of the high places of the city:
She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,
4 “Who [is] simple? Let him turn aside here.” Whoever lacks heart: she has said to him,
Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
5 “Come, eat of my bread, And drink of the wine I have mingled.
Come, eat 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 the foolish, and live; and go 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 that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: 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.
Reprove 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 instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just 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 Yhwh 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 be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.
13 A foolish woman [is] noisy, Simple, and has not known what.
A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.
14 And she has sat at the opening of her house, On a throne—the high places of the city,
For she sitteth 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 passers-by who go right on their ways:
16 “Who [is] simple? Let him turn aside here.” And whoever lacks heart—she said to him,
Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
17 “Stolen waters are sweet, And hidden bread is pleasant.”
Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
