Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom hath built herself a house, she hath hewn her out seven pillars.
Wisdom has built a house for herself, and set up seven pillars.
2 She hath slain her victims, mingled her wine, and set forth her table.
She has killed her beasts; she has mingled her wine in a bowl, and prepared her table.
3 She hath sent her maids to invite to the tower, and to the walls of the city:
She has sent forth her servants, calling with a loud proclamation to the feast, saying,
4 Whosoever is a little one, let him come to me. And to the unwise she said:
Whoso is foolish, let him turn aside to me: and to them that want understanding she says,
5 Come, eat my bread, and drink the wine which I have mingled for you.
Come, eat of my bread, and drink wine which I have mingled for you.
6 Forsake childishness, and live, and walk by the ways of prudence.
Leave folly, that ye may reign for ever; and seek wisdom, and improve understanding by knowledge.
7 He that teacheth a scorner, doth an injury to himself: and he that rebuketh a wicked man, getteth himself a blot.
He that reproves evil [men] shall get dishonour to himself; and he that rebukes an ungodly [man] shall disgrace himself.
8 Rebuke not a scorner lest he hate thee. Rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
Rebuke not evil [men], lest they should hate thee: rebuke a wise [man], and he will love thee.
9 Give an occasion to a wise man, and wisdom shall be added to him. Teach a just man, and he shall make haste to receive it.
Give an opportunity to a wise [man], and he will be wiser: instruct a just man, and he will receive more [instruction].
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is prudence.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the counsel of saints is understanding: for to know the law is [the character] of a sound mind.
11 For by me shall thy days be multiplied, and years of life shall be added to thee.
For in this way thou shalt live long, and years of thy life shall be added to thee.
12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be so to thyself: and if a scorner, thou alone shalt bear the evil.
Son, if thou be wise for thyself, thou shalt also be wise for thy neighbours; and if thou shouldest prove wicked, thou alone wilt bear the evil. He that stays himself upon falsehoods, attempts to rule the winds, and the same will pursue birds in their fight: for he has forsaken the ways of his own vineyard, and he has caused the axles of his own husbandry to go astray; and he goes through a dry desert, and a [land] appointed to drought, and he gathers barrenness with his hands.
13 A foolish woman and clamorous, and full of allurements, and knowing nothing at all,
A foolish and bold woman, who knows not modesty, comes to want a morsel.
14 Sat at the door of her house, upon a seat, in a high place of the city,
She sits at the doors of her house, on a seat openly in the streets,
15 To call them that pass by the way, and go on their journey:
calling to passers by, and to those that are going right on their ways;
16 He that is a little one, let him turn to me. And to the fool she said:
[saying], Whoso is most senseless of you, let him turn aside to me; and I exhort those that want prudence, saying,
17 Stolen waters are sweeter, and hid den bread is more pleasant.
Take and enjoy secret bread, and the sweet water of theft.
