Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom hath builded her house, She hath hewn out her pillars — seven.
Wisdom has built her own house; she has carved seven pillars out of rocks.
2 She hath slaughtered her slaughter, She hath mingled her wine, Yea, she hath arranged her table.
She has slaughtered her animals; she has mixed her wine; and she has 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 maids; she calls out from the highest points of the city,
4 'Who [is] simple? let him turn aside hither.' Whoso lacketh heart: she hath said to him,
“Who is naive? Let him turn aside here!” To the one lacking good sense she speaks.
5 'Come, eat of my bread, And drink of the wine I have mingled.
“Come, eat my food, and drink the wine I have mixed.
6 Forsake ye, the simple, and live, And be happy in the way of understanding.
Leave your naive actions and live; walk in the path of understanding.
7 The instructor of a scorner Is receiving for it — shame, And a reprover of the wicked — his blemish.
Whoever disciplines a mocker receives abuse, and whoever rebukes a wicked person receives insults.
8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee, Give reproof to the wise, and he loveth thee.
Do not reprove a mocker, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
9 Give to the wise, and he is wiser still, Make known to the righteous, And he increaseth learning.
Give to a wise person, and he will become even wiser; teach a righteous person, and he will add to his learning.
10 The commencement of wisdom [is] the fear of Jehovah, And a knowledge of the Holy Ones [is] understanding.
The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom, and 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 through me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you.
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, and if you mock, you will carry it by yourself.”
13 A foolish woman [is] noisy, Simple, and hath not known what.
The woman of foolishness is ignorant; she is untaught 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 highest places of the town.
15 To call to those passing by the way, Who are going straight [on] their paths.
She is calling out to those who pass by in the streets, to people walking straight on their way.
16 'Who [is] simple? let him turn aside hither.' And whoso lacketh heart — she said to him,
“Let anyone who is naive turn aside here,” she says to those who have no sense.
17 'Stolen waters are sweet, And hidden bread is pleasant.'
“Stolen waters are sweet, and bread of secrecy is delicious.”
