< Proverbs 9 >
1 Wisdom, hath builded her house, hath hewn out her seven pillars;
Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:
2 hath slaughtered her beasts, hath mingled her wine, hath even set in order her table;
She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.
3 hath sent forth her maidens, She crieth aloud, upon the tops of the heights of the city:
She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,
4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither, as for him that lacketh sense, she saith to him—
Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
5 Come, feed on my food, and drink of the wine I have mingled;
Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
6 Forsake the simple ones, and live, and advance in the way of understanding.
Forsake the foolish, and live; and go 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 that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
8 Do not reprove a scoffer, lest he hate thee, Reprove a wise man, and he will love thee.
Reprove not a scorner, lest he 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 instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
10 The beginning of wisdom, is the reverence of Yahweh, and, the knowledge of the Holy, is understanding;
The fear of Yhwh is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
11 For, by me, shall be multiplied—thy days, and there be added to thee—the years of life.
For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.
12 If thou art wise, thou art wise for thyself, but, if thou scoff, alone, shalt thou bear it.
If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.
13 The woman Stupidity, is boisterous, so simple that she knoweth not what she would do;
A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.
14 So she sitteth at the entrance of her house, upon a seat, in the heights of the city;
For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
15 To invite them who pass by the way, who are going straight on in their paths:
To call passers-by who go right on their ways:
16 Whoso is simple, let him turn aside hither, and, as for him that lacketh sense, she saith to him:
Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
17 Stolen waters, will be sweet, —and a secret meal, will be pleasant;
Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
18 But he knoweth not, that the shades are there; In the depths of hades, are her guests. (Sheol )
But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell. (Sheol )