Chapter 9

¹ Wisdom has built a house for herself, and set up seven pillars. ² She has killed her

796

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 ¹wisdom, and improve understanding by knowledge. 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 The fear of the Lord is the ²beginning of wisdom, and the counsel of saints is understanding: for to know the law is the character of a sound mind. ¹¹ For in this way thou shalt live long, and years of thy life shall be added to thee.

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. ³He that stays himself upon falsehoods, attempts to rule the winds, and the same will pursue birds in their fight: for he has forsaken the ways of his own vineyard, and he has caused the axles of his own husbandry to go astray; and he goes through a dry desert, and a land appointed to drought, and he gathers barrenness with his hands.

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