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 made her house, putting up 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 put her fat beasts to death; her wine is mixed, her table is ready.
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 women-servants; her voice goes out to the highest places of the town, saying,
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 come in here; and to him who has no sense, she says:
5 “Come and eat the food that I [have prepared], and drink the [good] wine that I have mixed!
Come, take of my bread, and of my wine which is 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).”
Give up the simple ones and have life, and go in the way of knowledge.
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.
He who gives teaching to a man of pride gets shame for himself; he who says sharp words to a sinner gets a bad name.
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 say sharp words to a man of pride, or he will have hate for you; make them clear to a wise man, and you will be dear to him.
9 If you give instruction to wise people, they will become wiser. And if you teach righteous people, they will learn more.
Give teaching to a wise man, and he will become wiser; give training to an upright man, and his learning will be increased.
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 start of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One gives a wise mind
11 If you become wise, you will live many years [DOU].
For by me your days will be increased, and the years of your life will be long.
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 your heart is full of pride, you only will have the pain of it.
13 Foolish women talk loudly; they are ignorant and are never ashamed [of the wrong things that they do].
The foolish woman is full of noise; she has no sense at all.
14 They sit at the doors of their houses [or] they sit on the top [of the hills] in the town,
Seated at the door of her house, in the high places of the town,
15 and they call out to the men who are passing by, who are trying to be concerned with their own affairs,
Crying out to those who go by, going straight on their way, she says:
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 come in here: and to him who is without sense, she says:
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].”
Drink taken without right is sweet, and food in secret is pleasing.
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 see that the dead are there, that her guests are in the deep places of the underworld. (Sheol h7585)
