Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom has built her house. She has carved out her seven pillars.
Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her pillars—seven.
2 She has prepared her meat. She has mixed her wine. She has also set her table.
She has slaughtered her slaughter, She has mingled her wine, Indeed, she has arranged her table.
3 She has sent out her maidens. She cries from the highest places of the city:
She has sent forth her girls, She cries on the tops of the high places of the city:
4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
“Who [is] simple? Let him turn aside here.” Whoever lacks heart: she has said to him,
5 “Come, eat some of my bread, Drink some of the wine which I have mixed!
“Come, eat of my bread, And drink of the wine I have mingled.
6 Leave your simple ways, and live. Walk in the way of understanding.”
Forsake the simple and live, And be blessed in the way of understanding.”
7 One who corrects a mocker invites insult. One who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.
The instructor of a scorner Is receiving for it—shame, And a reprover of the wicked—his blemish.
8 Don’t reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you. Reprove a wise person, and he will love you.
Do not reprove a scorner, lest he hate you, Give reproof to the wise, and he loves you.
9 Instruct a wise person, and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous person, and he will increase in learning.
Give to the wise, and he is wiser still, Make known to the righteous, And he increases learning.
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
The commencement of wisdom [is] the fear of YHWH, And a knowledge of the Holy Ones [is] understanding.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied. The years of your life will be increased.
For by me your days multiply, And years of life are added to you.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself. If you mock, you alone will bear it.
If you have been wise, you have been wise for yourself, And you have scorned—you bear [it] alone.
13 The foolish woman is loud, undisciplined, and knows nothing.
A foolish woman [is] noisy, Simple, and has not known what.
14 She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
And she has sat at the opening of her house, On a throne—the high places of the city,
15 to call to those who pass by, who go straight on their ways,
To call to those passing by the way, Who are going straight [on] their paths.
16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here.” As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
“Who [is] simple? Let him turn aside here.” And whoever lacks heart—she said to him,
17 “Stolen water is sweet. Food eaten in secret is pleasant.”
“Stolen waters are sweet, And hidden bread is pleasant.”
