Proverbes 9

¹ Wisdom has built a house for herself, and set up seven pillars.

² She has killed her beasts ; she has mingled her wine in a bowl, and prepared her table.

³ She has sent forth her servants, calling with a loud proclamation to the feast, saying,

⁴ Whoso is foolish, let him turn aside to me : and to them that want understanding she says,

⁵ Come, eat of my bread, and drink wine which I have mingled for you.

⁶ Leave folly, that ye may reign for ever ; and seek wisdom, and improve understanding by knowledge. Notesn1 Alex. + 'that ye may live.'

⁷ He that reproves evil men shall get dishonour to himself ; and he that rebukes an ungodly man shall disgrace himself.

⁸ Rebuke not evil men, lest they should hate thee : rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

⁹ Give an opportunity to a wise man, and he will be wiser : instruct a just man, and he will receive more instruction.

¹⁰ [10] The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the counsel of saints is understanding :
[10a] for to know the law is the character of a sound mind. Notesn1 Or, summit.

¹¹ For in this way thou shalt live long, and years of thy life shall be added to thee.

¹² [12] 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.
[12a] He that stays himself upon falsehoods, attempts to rule the winds, and the same will pursue birds in their flight :
[12b] for he has forsaken the ways of his own vineyard, and he has caused the axles of his own husbandry to go astray ;
[12c] and he goes through a dry desert, and a land appointed to drought, and he gathers barrenness with his hands. Notesn1 Heb. — to beginning of verse 13.

¹³ A foolish and bold woman, who knows not modesty, comes to want a morsel.

¹⁴ She sits at the doors of her house, on a seat openly in the streets,

¹⁵ calling to passers by, and to those that are going right on their ways ;

¹⁶ saying, Whoso is most senseless of you, let him turn aside to me ; and I exhort those that want prudence, saying,

¹⁷ Take and enjoy secret bread, and the sweet water of theft.

¹⁸ [18] But he knows that mighty men die by her, and he falls in with a snare of hell.
[18a] But hasten away, delay not in the place, neither fix thine eye upon her :
[18b] for thus shalt thou go through strange water ;
[18c] but do thou abstain from strange water, and drink not of a strange fountain,
[18d] that thou mayest live long, and years of life may be added to thee.