Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom hath builded her house; She hath hewn out her seven pillars.
Wisdom has built her house; she has carved out her seven pillars.
2 She hath killed her fatlings; She hath mingled her wine; Yea, she hath furnished her table.
She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table.
3 She hath sent forth her maidens; She crieth aloud upon the highest places of the city:
She has sent out her maidservants; she calls out from the heights of the city.
4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in hither!” To him that is void of understanding she saith,
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” she says to him who lacks judgment.
5 “Come, eat of my bread, And drink of the wine which I have mingled!
“Come, eat my bread and drink the wine I have mixed.
6 Forsake folly, and live! And go forward in the way of understanding!
Leave your folly behind, and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.”
7 “He who correcteth a scoffer Bringeth shame upon himself; And he who rebuketh the wicked Bringeth upon himself a stain.
He who corrects a mocker brings shame on himself; he who rebukes a wicked man taints himself.
8 Rebuke not a scoffer, lest he hate thee; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser; Teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning.
Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning.
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Most Holy is understanding.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 Yea, through me thy days shall be multiplied, And the years of thy life shall be increased.
For through wisdom your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.
12 If thou art wise, thou art wise for thyself; And if thou art a scoffer, thou alone must bear it.”
If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage; but if you scoff, you alone will bear the consequences.
13 The foolish woman is clamorous; She is very simple, and careth for nothing.
The woman named Folly is loud; she is naive and knows nothing.
14 She sitteth at the door of her house, Upon a seat in the high places of the city,
She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the heights of the city,
15 To call aloud to those that pass by, Who go straight forward in their ways,
calling out to those who pass by, who make their paths straight.
16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in hither!” And to him that is void of understanding she saith,
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” she says to him who lacks judgment.
17 “Stolen water is sweet, And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
“Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is tasty!”
