Proverbs, 9

1. Wisdom has built herself a house, she has hewn her seven pillars,

1. Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:

2. she has slaughtered her beasts, drawn her wine, she has laid her table.

2. She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.

3. She has despatched her maidservants and proclaimed from the heights above the city,

3. She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,

4. 'Who is simple? Let him come this way.' To the fool she says,

4. Whoso [is] simple, let him turn in hither: [as for] him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

5. 'Come and eat my bread, drink the wine which I have drawn!

5. Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine [which] I have mingled.

6. Leave foolishness behind and you will live, go forwards in the ways of perception.'

6. Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

7. Reprove a mocker and you attract contempt, rebuke the wicked and you attract dishonour.

7. He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked [man getteth] himself a blot.

8. Do not rebuke the mocker, he will hate you. Rebuke the wise and he will love you for it.

8. Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

9. Be open with the wise, he grows wiser still, teach the upright, he will gain yet more.

9. Give [instruction] to a wise [man], and he will be yet wiser: teach a just [man], and he will increase in learning.

10. The first principle of wisdom is the fear of Yahweh, What God's holy ones know -- this is understanding.

10. The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy [is] understanding.

11. For by me your days will be multiplied, and your years of life increased.

11. For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.

12. Are you wise? You are wise to your own good. A mocker? The burden is yours alone.

12. If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but [if] thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear [it].

13. A silly woman acts on impulse, is foolish and knows nothing.

13. A foolish woman [is] clamorous: [she is] simple, and knoweth nothing.

14. She sits at the door of her house, on a throne high up in the city,

14. For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,

15. calling to the passers-by, who are walking straight past on their way,

15. To call passengers who go right on their ways:

16. 'Who is simple? Turn aside, come over here.' To the fool she says,

16. Whoso [is] simple, let him turn in hither: and [as for] him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

17. 'Stolen waters are sweet, and bread tastes better when eaten in secret.'

17. Stolen waters are sweet, and bread [eaten] in secret is pleasant.

18. But the fool does not know that this is where the Shades are and that her guests are already in the vales of Sheol.

18. But he knoweth not that the dead [are] there; [and that] her guests [are] in the depths of hell.