< Proverbs 9 >
1 Wisdom hath built her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:
Wisdom has made her house, putting up her seven pillars.
2 She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.
She has put her fat beasts to death; her wine is mixed, her table is ready.
3 She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,
She has sent out her women-servants; her voice goes out to the highest places of the town, saying,
4 Whoever [is] simple, let him turn in hither: [as for] him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
Whoever is simple, let him come in here; and to him who has no sense, she says:
5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine [which] I have mingled.
Come, take of my bread, and of my wine which is mixed.
6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
Give up the simple ones and have life, and go in the way of knowledge.
7 He that reproveth a scorner, getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked [man getteth] himself a blot.
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 Reprove not a scorner, lest he shall hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
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 Give [instruction] to a wise [man], and he will be yet wiser: teach a just [man], and he will increase in learning.
Give teaching to a wise man, and he will become wiser; give training to an upright man, and his learning will be increased.
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 start of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One gives a wise mind
11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.
For by me your days will be increased, and the years of your life will be long.
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 for yourself; if your heart is full of pride, you only will have the pain of it.
13 A foolish woman [is] clamorous: [she is] simple, and knoweth nothing.
The foolish woman is full of noise; she has no sense at all.
14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
Seated at the door of her house, in the high places of the town,
15 To call passengers who go right on their ways:
Crying out to those who go by, going straight on their way, she says:
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 come in here: and to him who is without sense, she says:
17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread [eaten] in secret is pleasant.
Drink taken without right is sweet, and food in secret is pleasing.
18 But he knoweth not that the dead [are] there; [and that] her guests [are] in the depths of hell. (Sheol )
But he does not see that the dead are there, that her guests are in the deep places of the underworld. (Sheol )