Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom, hath builded her house, hath hewn out her seven pillars;
Wisdom has built her house; she has carved out her seven pillars.
2 hath slaughtered her beasts, hath mingled her wine, hath even set in order her table;
She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table.
3 hath sent forth her maidens, She crieth aloud, upon the tops of the heights of the city:
She has sent out her maidservants; she calls out from the heights of the city.
4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither, as for him that lacketh sense, she saith to him—
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” she says to him who lacks judgment.
5 Come, feed on my food, and drink of the wine I have mingled;
“Come, eat my bread and drink the wine I have mixed.
6 Forsake the simple ones, and live, and advance in the way of understanding.
Leave your folly behind, and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.”
7 He that rebuketh a scoffer, getteth to himself contempt, and, he that reproveth a lawless man, [getteth to himself] his shame.
He who corrects a mocker brings shame on himself; he who rebukes a wicked man taints himself.
8 Do not reprove a scoffer, lest he hate thee, Reprove 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 to a wise man, and he will be wiser still, Inform a righteous man, and he will increase learning.
Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning.
10 The beginning of wisdom, is the reverence of Yahweh, and, the knowledge of the Holy, is understanding;
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For, by me, shall be multiplied—thy days, and there be added to thee—the years of life.
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, but, if thou scoff, alone, shalt thou 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 woman Stupidity, is boisterous, so simple that she knoweth not what she would do;
The woman named Folly is loud; she is naive and knows nothing.
14 So she sitteth at the entrance of her house, upon a seat, in the heights of the city;
She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the heights of the city,
15 To invite them who pass by the way, who are going straight on in their paths:
calling out to those who pass by, who make their paths straight.
16 Whoso is simple, let him turn aside hither, and, as for him that lacketh sense, she saith to him:
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” she says to him who lacks judgment.
17 Stolen waters, will be sweet, —and a secret meal, will be pleasant;
“Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is tasty!”
