Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom bildide an hous to him silf; he hewide out seuene pileris,
Wisdom has built a house for herself. She has hewn seven columns.
2 he offride his slayn sacrifices, he medlide wijn, and settide forth his table.
She has immolated her victims. She has mixed her wine and set forth her table.
3 He sente hise handmaides, that thei schulden clepe to the tour; and to the wallis of the citee.
She has sent her maids to call out to the tower and to the fortified walls of the city,
4 If ony man is litil; come he to me. And wisdom spak to vnwise men,
“If anyone is little, let him come to me.” And to the unwise, she has said:
5 Come ye, ete ye my breed; and drynke ye the wiyn, which Y haue medlid to you.
“Approach. Eat my bread, and drink the wine that I have mixed for you.
6 Forsake ye yong childhed, and lyue ye; and go ye bi the weyes of prudence.
Leave behind childishness. And live and walk by the ways of prudence.”
7 He that techith a scornere, doith wrong to him silf; and he that vndirnymmeth a wickid man, gendrith a wem to him silf.
Whoever teaches a mocker causes injury to himself. And whoever argues with the impious produces a blemish on himself.
8 Nile thou vndirnyme a scornere; lest he hate thee. Vndirnyme thou a wise man; and he schal loue thee.
Do not be willing to argue with a mocker, lest he hate you. Dispute with the wise, 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.
Present an opportunity to the wise, and wisdom shall be added to him. Teach the just, and he will hurry to receive it.
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, and knowledge of holiness is prudence.
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 and years of life will be added to you.
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 would be wise, you will be so for yourself. But if you would be one who ridicules, you alone shall carry the evil.
13 A fonned womman, and ful of cry, and ful of vnleueful lustis, and that kan no thing outirli,
A foolish and loud woman, who is full of enticements and who knows nothing at all,
14 sittith in the doris of hir hous, on a seete, in an hiy place of the cite;
sat at the entrance of her house on a seat, in a high place of the city,
15 to clepe men passinge bi the weie, and men goynge in her iournei.
so as to call to those who were passing by the way and continuing on their journey:
16 Who is a litil man `of wit; bowe he to me. And sche spak to a coward,
“Whoever is little, let him turn aside to me.” And to the frenzied, she said,
17 Watris of thefte ben swettere, and breed hid is swettere.
“Stolen waters are more soothing, and secret bread is more 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)
And he did not know that giants are there, and that her companions are in the depths of Hell. (Sheol h7585)
