Proverbs - The Old Testament

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.