Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom has built her house. She has set up her seven pillars.
Wisdom hath builded her house, She hath hewn out her pillars — seven.
2 She has prepared her meat. She has mixed her wine. She has also set her table.
She hath slaughtered her slaughter, She hath mingled her wine, Yea, she hath arranged her table.
3 She has sent out her maidens. She cries from the highest places of the city:
She hath sent forth her damsels, She crieth on the tops of the high places of the city:
4 "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here." As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
'Who [is] simple? let him turn aside hither.' Whoso lacketh heart: she hath said to him,
5 "Come, eat some of my bread, Drink some of the wine which I have mixed.
'Come, eat of my bread, And drink of the wine I have mingled.
6 Leave your simple ways, and live. Walk in the way of understanding."
Forsake ye, the simple, and live, And be happy in the way of understanding.
7 He who corrects a mocker invites insult. He who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.
The instructor of a scorner Is receiving for it — shame, And a reprover of the wicked — his blemish.
8 Do not reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you. Reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee, Give reproof to the wise, and he loveth thee.
9 Instruct a wise man, and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
Give to the wise, and he is wiser still, Make known to the righteous, And he increaseth learning.
10 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
The commencement of wisdom [is] the fear of Jehovah, And a knowledge of the Holy Ones [is] understanding.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied. The years of your life will be increased.
For by me do thy days multiply, And added to thee are years of life.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself. If you mock, you alone will bear it.
If thou hast been wise, thou hast been wise for thyself, And thou hast scorned — thyself bearest [it].
13 The foolish woman is loud, Undisciplined, and knows nothing.
A foolish woman [is] noisy, Simple, and hath not known what.
14 She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
And she hath sat at the opening of her house, On a throne — the high places of the city,
15 To call to those who pass by, who go straight on their ways,
To call to those passing by the way, Who are going straight [on] their paths.
16 "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here." as for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
'Who [is] simple? let him turn aside hither.' And whoso lacketh heart — she said to him,
17 "Stolen water is sweet. Food eaten in secret is pleasant."
'Stolen waters are sweet, And hidden bread is pleasant.'
