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