Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom, hath builded her house, hath hewn out her seven pillars;
Wisdom has built a house for herself, and set up seven pillars.
2 hath slaughtered her beasts, hath mingled her wine, hath even set in order her table;
She has killed her beasts; she has mingled her wine in a bowl, and prepared her table.
3 hath sent forth her maidens, She crieth aloud, upon the tops of the heights of the city:
She has sent forth her servants, calling with a loud proclamation to the feast, saying,
4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither, as for him that lacketh sense, she saith to him—
Whoso is foolish, let him turn aside to me: and to them that want understanding she says,
5 Come, feed on my food, and drink of the wine I have mingled;
Come, eat of my bread, and drink wine which I have mingled for you.
6 Forsake the simple ones, and live, and advance in the way of understanding.
Leave folly, that ye may reign for ever; and seek wisdom, and improve understanding by knowledge.
7 He that rebuketh a scoffer, getteth to himself contempt, and, he that reproveth a lawless man, [getteth to himself] his shame.
He that reproves evil [men] shall get dishonour to himself; and he that rebukes an ungodly [man] shall disgrace himself.
8 Do not reprove a scoffer, lest he hate thee, Reprove a wise man, and he will love thee.
Rebuke not evil [men], lest they should hate thee: rebuke a wise [man], and he will love thee.
9 Give to a wise man, and he will be wiser still, Inform a righteous man, and he will increase learning.
Give an opportunity to a wise [man], and he will be wiser: instruct a just man, and he will receive more [instruction].
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 the counsel of saints is understanding: for to know the law is [the character] of a sound mind.
11 For, by me, shall be multiplied—thy days, and there be added to thee—the years of life.
For in this way thou shalt live long, and years of thy life shall be added to thee.
12 If thou art wise, thou art wise for thyself, but, if thou scoff, alone, shalt thou bear it.
Son, if thou be wise for thyself, thou shalt also be wise for thy neighbours; and if thou shouldest prove wicked, thou alone wilt bear the evil. He that stays himself upon falsehoods, attempts to rule the winds, and the same will pursue birds in their fight: for he has forsaken the ways of his own vineyard, and he has caused the axles of his own husbandry to go astray; and he goes through a dry desert, and a [land] appointed to drought, and he gathers barrenness with his hands.
13 The woman Stupidity, is boisterous, so simple that she knoweth not what she would do;
A foolish and bold woman, who knows not modesty, comes to want a morsel.
14 So she sitteth at the entrance of her house, upon a seat, in the heights of the city;
She sits at the doors of her house, on a seat openly in the streets,
15 To invite them who pass by the way, who are going straight on in their paths:
calling to passers by, and to those that are going right on their ways;
16 Whoso is simple, let him turn aside hither, and, as for him that lacketh sense, she saith to him:
[saying], Whoso is most senseless of you, let him turn aside to me; and I exhort those that want prudence, saying,
17 Stolen waters, will be sweet, —and a secret meal, will be pleasant;
Take and enjoy secret bread, and the sweet water of theft.
