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 own house; she has carved seven pillars out of rocks.
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 slaughtered her animals; she has mixed her wine; and she has 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 maids; she calls out from the highest points 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,
“Who is naive? Let him turn aside here!” To the one lacking good sense she speaks.
5 “Come and eat the food that I [have prepared], and drink the [good] wine that I have mixed!
“Come, eat my food, and drink the wine 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 naive actions and live; walk in the path 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.
Whoever disciplines a mocker receives abuse, and whoever rebukes a wicked person receives insults.
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 mocker, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, 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.
Give to a wise person, and he will become even wiser; teach a righteous person, and he will add to his 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 Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 If you become wise, you will live many years [DOU].
For through 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 are wise, you are wise for yourself, and if you mock, you will carry it by yourself.”
13 Foolish women talk loudly; they are ignorant and are never ashamed [of the wrong things that they do].
The woman of foolishness is ignorant; she is untaught 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 highest 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,
She is calling out to those who pass by in the streets, to people walking straight on their way.
16 “You people who need to understand more, come into [my house]!” And to those who are ignorant, they call out,
“Let anyone who is naive turn aside here,” she says to those who have no sense.
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 sweet, and bread of secrecy is delicious.”
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 dead are there, that her invited guests are in the depths of Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
