Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom has built her own house; she has carved seven pillars out of rocks.
Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars;
2 She has slaughtered her animals; she has mixed her wine; and she has set her table.
She hath prepared her meat, she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.
3 She has sent out her maids; she calls out from the highest points of the city,
She hath sent forth her maidens, she calleth, upon the highest places of the city:
4 “Who is naive? Let him turn aside here!” To the one lacking good sense she speaks.
'Whoso is thoughtless, let him turn in hither'; as for him that lacketh understanding, she saith to him:
5 “Come, eat my food, and drink the wine I have mixed.
'Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
6 Leave your naive actions and live; walk in the path of understanding.
Forsake all thoughtlessness, and live; and walk in the way of understanding.
7 Whoever disciplines a mocker receives abuse, and whoever rebukes a wicked person receives insults.
He that correcteth a scorner getteth to himself shame, and he that reproveth a wicked man, it becometh unto him a blot.
8 Do not reprove a mocker, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee; reprove a wise man, and he will love thee.
9 Give to a wise person, and he will become even wiser; teach a righteous person, and he will add to his learning.
Give to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
10 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the All-holy is understanding.
11 For through me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you.
For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, and if you mock, you will carry it by yourself.”
If thou art wise, thou art wise for thyself; and if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.'
13 The woman of foolishness is ignorant; she is untaught and knows nothing.
The woman Folly is riotous; she is thoughtless, and knoweth nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the highest places of the town.
And she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
15 She is calling out to those who pass by in the streets, to people walking straight on their way.
To call to them that pass by, who go right on their ways:
16 “Let anyone who is naive turn aside here,” she says to those who have no sense.
'Whoso is thoughtless, let him turn in hither'; and as for him that lacketh understanding, she saith to him:
17 “Stolen waters are sweet, and bread of secrecy is delicious.”
'Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.'
