9:1
Wisdom has built herself a house, she has hewn her seven pillars,
9:2
she has slaughtered her beasts, drawn her wine, she has laid her table.
9:3
She has despatched her maidservants and proclaimed from the heights above the city,
9:4
'Who is simple? Let him come this way.' To the fool she says,
9:5
'Come and eat my bread, drink the wine which I have drawn!
9:6
Leave foolishness behind and you will live, go forwards in the ways of perception.'
9:7
Reprove a mocker and you attract contempt, rebuke the wicked and you attract dishonour.
9:8
Do not rebuke the mocker, he will hate you. Rebuke the wise and he will love you for it.
9:9
Be open with the wise, he grows wiser still, teach the upright, he will gain yet more.
9:10
The first principle of wisdom is the fear of Yahweh, What God's holy ones know -- this is understanding.
9:11
For by me your days will be multiplied, and your years of life increased.
9:12
Are you wise? You are wise to your own good. A mocker? The burden is yours alone.
9:13
A silly woman acts on impulse, is foolish and knows nothing.
9:14
She sits at the door of her house, on a throne high up in the city,
9:15
calling to the passers-by, who are walking straight past on their way,
9:16
'Who is simple? Turn aside, come over here.' To the fool she says,
9:17
'Stolen waters are sweet, and bread tastes better when eaten in secret.'
9:18
But the fool does not know that this is where the Shades are and that her guests are already in the vales of Sheol.
Previous
Next