Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom, hath builded her house, hath hewn out her seven pillars;
Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her 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; she has also furnished 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 maidens: she cries 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 here: as for him that wants understanding, she says 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 reproves a scorner gets to himself shame: and he that rebukes a wicked man gets 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 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.
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 the LORD 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 your days shall be multiplied, and the years of your life shall be increased.
12 If thou art wise, thou art wise for thyself, but, if thou scoff, alone, shalt thou bear it.
If you be wise, you shall be wise for yourself: but if you scorn, you alone shall 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 knows nothing.
14 So she sitteth at the entrance of her house, upon a seat, in the heights of the city;
For she sits 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 passengers 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 here: and as for him that wants understanding, she says 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.
