Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom hath builded her house; She hath hewn out her seven pillars.
Wisdom has built her house; she has prepared its seven pillars.
2 She hath killed her fatlings; She hath mingled her wine; Yea, she hath furnished her table.
She has slaughtered her animals for meat; she has mixed her wine; and she has 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 servant girls with invitations. She calls out from the highest places of the town,
4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in hither!” To him that is void of understanding she saith,
“Everybody who needs to learn, come and see me!” To people who don't have any sense she says,
5 “Come, eat of my bread, And drink of the wine which I have mingled!
“Come, eat my food, and drink the wine I have mixed.
6 Forsake folly, and live! And go forward in the way of understanding!
Leave your foolish ways and you will live; follow the path that makes sense.”
7 “He who correcteth a scoffer Bringeth shame upon himself; And he who rebuketh the wicked Bringeth upon himself a stain.
If you correct a mocker all you get are insults; if you argue with the wicked all you get is abuse.
8 Rebuke not a scoffer, lest he hate thee; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
So don't argue with mockers or they'll only hate you; argue with the wise and they'll 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.
Educate the wise and they'll become even wiser; teach those who live right and they will increase their learning.
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Most Holy is understanding.
Honoring the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; knowledge of the Holy One brings insight.
11 Yea, through me thy days shall be multiplied, And the years of thy life shall be increased.
Through wisdom you'll have many more days, increasing the years of 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 the one to profit from it; if you scoff, you alone will have to suffer the consequences.
13 The foolish woman is clamorous; She is very simple, and careth for nothing.
Stupidity is like a loud, ignorant woman who doesn't know anything.
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 high places of the town,
15 To call aloud to those that pass by, Who go straight forward in their ways,
calling out to those passing by, going about their business,
16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in hither!” And to him that is void of understanding she saith,
“Everybody who needs to learn, come and see me!” To people who don't have any sense she says,
17 “Stolen water is sweet, And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
“Stolen water is sweet, and food eaten in secret tastes good!”
