Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her pillars—seven.
Wisdom hath built 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 cattle; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also set in order 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 inviteth [her guests] upon the top of the highest places of the town.
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 is void of sense, 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 simplicity, and live; and go onward on 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 correcteth a scorner acquireth for himself abuse; and he that reproveth the wicked getteth himself a blemish.
8 Do not reprove a scorner, lest he hate you, Give reproof to the wise, and he loves you.
Do not correct a scorner, lest he hate thee: reprove 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 to the wise [instruction], and he will become yet wiser: impart knowledge to the righteous, and he will increase his information.
10 The commencement of wisdom [is] the fear of YHWH, And a knowledge of the Holy Ones [is] understanding.
The commencement of wisdom is the fear of the Lord; and the knowledge of the Most Holy One is understanding.
11 For by me your days multiply, And years of life are added to you.
For through me shall thy days be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased unto thee.
12 If you have been wise, you have been wise for yourself, And you have scorned—you bear [it] alone.
If thou art become wise, thou art wise for thyself; but if thou art a scorner, thou alone wilt have to bear it.”
13 A foolish woman [is] noisy, Simple, and has not known what.
The woman of folly is noisy: she is simple, and knoweth not what [to do].
14 And she has sat at the opening of her house, On a throne—the high places of the city,
And she sitteth at the door of her house, upon a chair in the high places of the town.
15 To call to those passing by the way, Who are going straight [on] their paths.
To call the wayfarers who go straight forward on their paths.
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 is void of sense, she saith to him,
17 “Stolen waters are sweet, And hidden bread is pleasant.”
“Stolen waters are sweet, and bread of secrecy is pleasant.”
