Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom hath builded her house, She hath hewn out her pillars — seven.
[It is as though] wisdom [is a woman who] has built a [big] house for herself, and has set up seven columns [to support the roof],
2 She hath slaughtered her slaughter, She hath mingled her wine, Yea, she hath arranged her table.
and has slaughtered an animal [and cooked the meat], and has mixed [nice spices] in the wine, and has put [the food] on the table.
3 She hath sent forth her damsels, She crieth on the tops of the high places of the city:
[It is as though then] she sent out her servant women to call out from the highest place in the town,
4 'Who [is] simple? let him turn aside hither.' Whoso lacketh heart: she hath said to him,
“You people who need to understand more, come in!” And to those who are ignorant, [it is as though] she calls out,
5 'Come, eat of my bread, And drink of the wine I have mingled.
“Come and eat the food that I [have prepared], and drink the [good] wine that I have mixed!
6 Forsake ye, the simple, and live, And be happy in the way of understanding.
(Leave/Go away from) [other] foolish people, and [if you do that, you will continue to] live. Walk on the road that will enable you to (have knowledge/know what is true and what is not true).”
7 The instructor of a scorner Is receiving for it — shame, And a reprover of the wicked — his blemish.
If you rebuke someone who will not allow others to correct him, he will insult you. If you reprove/scold an evil man, he will hurt you.
8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee, Give reproof to the wise, and he loveth thee.
Do not rebuke someone who will not allow others to (correct him/tell him what he has done is wrong), because he will hate you for doing that. [But] if you rebuke a wise person, he will respect you.
9 Give to the wise, and he is wiser still, Make known to the righteous, And he increaseth learning.
If you give instruction to wise people, they will become wiser. And if you teach righteous people, they will learn more.
10 The commencement of wisdom [is] the fear of Jehovah, And a knowledge of the Holy Ones [is] understanding.
If you want to be wise, you must start by revering Yahweh, and if you know God, the Holy One, you will understand [which teachings are wise/true].
11 For by me do thy days multiply, And added to thee are years of life.
If you become wise, you will live many years [DOU].
12 If thou hast been wise, thou hast been wise for thyself, And thou hast scorned — thyself bearest [it].
If you are wise, you are the one who will benefit from it; if you ridicule [becoming wise], you are the one who will suffer.
13 A foolish woman [is] noisy, Simple, and hath not known what.
Foolish women talk loudly; they are ignorant and are never ashamed [of the wrong things that they do].
14 And she hath sat at the opening of her house, On a throne — the high places of the city,
They sit at the doors of their houses [or] they sit on the top [of the hills] in the town,
15 To call to those passing by the way, Who are going straight [on] their paths.
and they call out to the men who are passing by, who are trying to be concerned with their own affairs,
16 'Who [is] simple? let him turn aside hither.' And whoso lacketh heart — she said to him,
“You people who need to understand more, come into [my house]!” And to those who are ignorant, they call out,
17 'Stolen waters are sweet, And hidden bread is pleasant.'
“[Just as] water which you have stolen tastes very good and food that you eat by yourself tastes the best, [if you have sex secretly with someone to whom you are not married, you will enjoy it very much].”
18 And he hath not known that Rephaim [are] there, In deep places of Sheol her invited ones! (Sheol h7585)
But men who go to those women’s houses do not know that those who have gone there are now dead; they have descended down into the deepest parts of the place where dead people are. (Sheol h7585)
