Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom bildide an hous to him silf; he hewide out seuene pileris,
Wisdom has built her house. She has carved out her seven pillars.
2 he offride his slayn sacrifices, he medlide wijn, and settide forth his table.
She has prepared her meat. She has mixed her wine. She has also set her table.
3 He sente hise handmaides, that thei schulden clepe to the tour; and to the wallis of the citee.
She has sent out her maidens. She cries from the highest places of the city:
4 If ony man is litil; come he to me. And wisdom spak to vnwise men,
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
5 Come ye, ete ye my breed; and drynke ye the wiyn, which Y haue medlid to you.
“Come, eat some of my bread, Drink some of the wine which I have mixed!
6 Forsake ye yong childhed, and lyue ye; and go ye bi the weyes of prudence.
Leave your simple ways, and live. Walk in the way of understanding.”
7 He that techith a scornere, doith wrong to him silf; and he that vndirnymmeth a wickid man, gendrith a wem to him silf.
One who corrects a mocker invites insult. One who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.
8 Nile thou vndirnyme a scornere; lest he hate thee. Vndirnyme thou a wise man; and he schal loue thee.
Do not reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you. Reprove a wise person, and he will love you.
9 Yyue thou occasioun to a wise man; and wisdom schal be encreessid to hym. Teche thou a iust man; and he schal haste to take.
Instruct a wise person, and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous person, and he will increase in learning.
10 The bigynnyng of wisdom is the dreed of the Lord; and prudence is the kunnyng of seyntis.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For thi daies schulen be multiplied bi me; and yeeris of lijf schulen be encreessid to thee.
For by me your days will be multiplied. The years of your life will be increased.
12 If thou art wijs; thou schalt be to thi silf, and to thi neiyboris. Forsothe if thou art a scornere; thou aloone schalt bere yuel.
If you are wise, you are wise for yourself. If you mock, you alone will bear it.
13 A fonned womman, and ful of cry, and ful of vnleueful lustis, and that kan no thing outirli,
The foolish woman is loud, undisciplined, and knows nothing.
14 sittith in the doris of hir hous, on a seete, in an hiy place of the cite;
She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
15 to clepe men passinge bi the weie, and men goynge in her iournei.
to call to those who pass by, who go straight on their ways,
16 Who is a litil man `of wit; bowe he to me. And sche spak to a coward,
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here.” As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
17 Watris of thefte ben swettere, and breed hid is swettere.
“Stolen water is sweet. Food eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 And wiste not that giauntis ben there; and the gestis `of hir ben in the depthis of helle. Sotheli he that schal be applied, ether fastned, to hir; schal go doun to hellis. For whi he that goith awei fro hir; schal be saued. (Sheol h7585)
But he does not know that the departed spirits are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol (Sheol h7585).
