Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom hath built her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:
Wisdom has built her house; she has carved out her seven pillars.
2 She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.
She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table.
3 She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,
She has sent out her maidservants; she calls out from the heights of the city.
4 Whoever [is] simple, let him turn in hither: [as for] him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” she says to him who lacks judgment.
5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine [which] I have mingled.
“Come, eat my bread and drink the wine I have mixed.
6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
Leave your folly behind, and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.”
7 He that reproveth a scorner, getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked [man getteth] himself a blot.
He who corrects a mocker brings shame on himself; he who rebukes a wicked man taints himself.
8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he shall hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
9 Give [instruction] to a wise [man], and he will be yet wiser: teach a just [man], and he will increase in learning.
Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning.
10 The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy [is] understanding.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.
For through wisdom your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.
12 If thou art wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but [if] thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear [it].
If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage; but if you scoff, you alone will bear the consequences.
13 A foolish woman [is] clamorous: [she is] simple, and knoweth nothing.
The woman named Folly is loud; she is naive and knows nothing.
14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the heights of the city,
15 To call passengers who go right on their ways:
calling out to those who pass by, who make their paths straight.
16 Whoever [is] simple, let him turn in hither: and [as for] him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” she says to him who lacks judgment.
17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread [eaten] in secret is pleasant.
“Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is tasty!”
