Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her pillars—seven.
Wisdom has built her house. She has carved out her seven pillars.
2 She has slaughtered her slaughter, She has mingled her wine, Indeed, she has arranged her table.
She has prepared her meat. She has mixed her wine. She has also set her table.
3 She has sent forth her girls, She cries on the tops of the high places of the city:
She has sent out her maidens. She cries from the highest places of the city:
4 “Who [is] simple? Let him turn aside here.” Whoever lacks heart: she has said to him,
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
5 “Come, eat of my bread, And drink of the wine I have mingled.
“Come, eat some of my bread, Drink some of the wine which I have mixed!
6 Forsake the simple and live, And be blessed in the way of understanding.”
Leave your simple ways, and live. Walk in the way of understanding.”
7 The instructor of a scorner Is receiving for it—shame, And a reprover of the wicked—his blemish.
One who corrects a mocker invites insult. One who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.
8 Do not reprove a scorner, lest he hate you, Give reproof to the wise, and he loves you.
Don’t reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you. Reprove a wise person, and he will love you.
9 Give to the wise, and he is wiser still, Make known to the righteous, And he increases learning.
Instruct a wise person, and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous person, 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 the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For by me your days multiply, And years of life are added to you.
For by me your days will be multiplied. The years of your life will be increased.
12 If you have been wise, you have been wise for yourself, And you have scorned—you bear [it] alone.
If you are wise, you are wise for yourself. If you mock, you alone will bear it.
13 A foolish woman [is] noisy, Simple, and has not known what.
The foolish woman is loud, undisciplined, and knows nothing.
14 And she has sat at the opening of her house, On a throne—the high places of the city,
She sits 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 to those who pass by, who go straight on their ways,
16 “Who [is] simple? Let him turn aside here.” And whoever lacks heart—she said to him,
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here.” As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
17 “Stolen waters are sweet, And hidden bread is pleasant.”
“Stolen water is sweet. Food eaten in secret is pleasant.”
