Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom has built her own house; she has carved seven pillars out of rocks.
Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars:
2 She has slaughtered her animals; she has mixed her wine; and she has set her table.
She has killed her beasts; she has mingled her wine; she has also furnished her table.
3 She has sent out her maids; she calls out from the highest points of the city,
She has sent forth her maidens: she cries on the highest places of the city,
4 “Who is naive? Let him turn aside here!” To the one lacking good sense she speaks.
Whoever is simple, let him turn in here: as for him that wants understanding, she says to him,
5 “Come, eat my food, and drink the wine I have mixed.
Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
6 Leave your naive actions and live; walk in the path of understanding.
Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
7 Whoever disciplines a mocker receives abuse, and whoever rebukes a wicked person receives insults.
He that reproves a scorner gets to himself shame: and he that rebukes a wicked man gets himself a blot.
8 Do not reprove a mocker, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate you: rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
9 Give to a wise person, and he will become even wiser; teach a righteous person, and he will add to his learning.
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
10 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
11 For through me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you.
For by me your days shall be multiplied, and the years of your life shall be increased.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, and if you mock, you will carry it by yourself.”
If you be wise, you shall be wise for yourself: but if you scorn, you alone shall bear it.
13 The woman of foolishness is ignorant; she is untaught and knows nothing.
A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knows nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the highest places of the town.
For she sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
15 She is calling out to those who pass by in the streets, to people walking straight on their way.
To call passengers who go right on their ways:
16 “Let anyone who is naive turn aside here,” she says to those who have no sense.
Whoever is simple, let him turn in here: and as for him that wants understanding, she says to him,
17 “Stolen waters are sweet, and bread of secrecy is delicious.”
Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
