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. She has 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 maidens. She cries from the highest places 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!” As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
5 “Come, eat of my bread, And drink of the wine which I have mingled!
“Come, eat some of my bread, Drink some of the wine which I have mixed!
6 Forsake folly, and live! And go forward in the way of understanding!
Leave your simple ways, and 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.
One who corrects a mocker invites insult. One who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.
8 Rebuke not a scoffer, lest he hate thee; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
Don’t reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you. Reprove a wise person, 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 person, and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous person, and he will increase in 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. The 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 by me your days will be multiplied. The years of your life will be increased.
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 for yourself. If you mock, you alone will bear it.
13 The foolish woman is clamorous; She is very simple, and careth for nothing.
The foolish woman is loud, undisciplined, 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 high places of the city,
15 To call aloud to those that pass by, Who go straight forward in their ways,
to call to those who pass by, who go straight on their ways,
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.” As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
17 “Stolen water is sweet, And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
“Stolen water is sweet. Food eaten in secret is pleasant.”
