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. She has 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 maidens. She cries from 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—
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
5 Come, feed on my food, and drink of the wine I have mingled;
“Come, eat some of my bread, Drink some of the wine which I have mixed!
6 Forsake the simple ones, and live, and advance in the way of understanding.
Leave your simple ways, and 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.
One who corrects a mocker invites insult. One who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.
8 Do not reprove a scoffer, lest he hate thee, Reprove 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 to a wise man, and he will be wiser still, Inform a righteous man, and he will increase learning.
Instruct a wise person, and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous person, 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. The 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 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, but, if thou scoff, alone, shalt thou bear it.
If you are wise, you are wise for yourself. If you mock, you alone will bear it.
13 The woman Stupidity, is boisterous, so simple that she knoweth not what she would do;
The foolish woman is loud, undisciplined, 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 high places of the city,
15 To invite them who pass by the way, who are going straight on in their paths:
to call to those who pass by, who go straight on their ways,
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.” As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
17 Stolen waters, will be sweet, —and a secret meal, will be pleasant;
“Stolen water is sweet. Food eaten in secret is pleasant.”
