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 a house for herself. She has hewn seven columns.
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 immolated her victims. She has mixed her wine and set forth 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 her maids to call out to the tower and to the fortified walls 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,
“If anyone is little, let him come to me.” And to the unwise, she has said:
5 “Come and eat the food that I [have prepared], and drink the [good] wine that I have mixed!
“Approach. Eat my bread, and drink the wine that I have mixed for you.
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 behind childishness. And live and walk by the ways of prudence.”
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.
Whoever teaches a mocker causes injury to himself. And whoever argues with the impious produces a blemish on himself.
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 be willing to argue with a mocker, lest he hate you. Dispute with the wise, 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.
Present an opportunity to the wise, and wisdom shall be added to him. Teach the just, and he will hurry to receive it.
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, and knowledge of holiness is prudence.
11 If you become wise, you will live many years [DOU].
For by me, your days will be multiplied and years of life will be added to you.
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 would be wise, you will be so for yourself. But if you would be one who ridicules, you alone shall carry the evil.
13 Foolish women talk loudly; they are ignorant and are never ashamed [of the wrong things that they do].
A foolish and loud woman, who is full of enticements and who knows nothing at all,
14 They sit at the doors of their houses [or] they sit on the top [of the hills] in the town,
sat at the entrance of her house on a seat, in a high place 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,
so as to call to those who were passing by the way and continuing on their journey:
16 “You people who need to understand more, come into [my house]!” And to those who are ignorant, they call out,
“Whoever is little, let him turn aside to me.” And to the frenzied, she said,
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 waters are more soothing, and secret bread is more 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)
And he did not know that giants are there, and that her companions are in the depths of Hell. (Sheol h7585)
