Proverbs 9
1 [It is as though] wisdom [is a woman who] has built a [big] house for herself, and has set up seven columns [to support the roof],
Wisdom has built her house. She has carved out her seven pillars.
2 and has slaughtered an animal [and cooked the meat], and has mixed [nice spices] in the wine, and has put [the food] on the table.
She has prepared her meat. She has mixed her wine. She has also set her table.
3 [It is as though then] she sent out her servant women to call out from the highest place in the town,
She has sent out her maidens. She cries from the highest places of the city:
4 “You people who need to understand more, come in!” And to those who are ignorant, [it is as though] she calls out,
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
5 “Come and eat the food that I [have prepared], and drink the [good] wine that I have mixed!
“Come, eat some of my bread, Drink some of the wine which I have mixed!
6 (Leave/Go away from) [other] foolish people, and [if you do that, you will continue to] live. Walk on the road that will enable you to (have knowledge/know what is true and what is not true).”
Leave your simple ways, and live. Walk in the way of understanding.”
7 If you rebuke someone who will not allow others to correct him, he will insult you. If you reprove/scold an evil man, he will hurt you.
One who corrects a mocker invites insult. One who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.
8 Do not rebuke someone who will not allow others to (correct him/tell him what he has done is wrong), because he will hate you for doing that. [But] if you rebuke a wise person, he will respect you.
Do not reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you. Reprove a wise person, and he will love you.
9 If you give instruction to wise people, they will become wiser. And if you teach righteous people, they will learn more.
Instruct a wise person, and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous person, and he will increase in learning.
10 If you want to be wise, you must start by revering Yahweh, and if you know God, the Holy One, you will understand [which teachings are wise/true].
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 If you become wise, you will live many years [DOU].
For by me your days will be multiplied. The years of your life will be increased.
12 If you are wise, you are the one who will benefit from it; if you ridicule [becoming wise], you are the one who will suffer.
If you are wise, you are wise for yourself. If you mock, you alone will bear it.
13 Foolish women talk loudly; they are ignorant and are never ashamed [of the wrong things that they do].
The foolish woman is loud, undisciplined, and knows nothing.
14 They sit at the doors of their houses [or] they sit on the top [of the hills] in the town,
She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
15 and they call out to the men who are passing by, who are trying to be concerned with their own affairs,
to call to those who pass by, who go straight on their ways,
16 “You people who need to understand more, come into [my house]!” And to those who are ignorant, they call out,
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here.” As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
17 “[Just as] water which you have stolen tastes very good and food that you eat by yourself tastes the best, [if you have sex secretly with someone to whom you are not married, you will enjoy it very much].”
“Stolen water is sweet. Food eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 But men who go to those women’s houses do not know that those who have gone there are now dead; they have descended down into the deepest parts of the place where dead people are. (Sheol h7585)
But he does not know that the departed spirits are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol (Sheol h7585).
