CHAPTER 9
1 Wisdom builded an house to himself; he hewed out seven pillars,
2 he offered his slain sacrifices, he meddled [or mingled] wine, and setted [or set] forth his table.
3 He sent his handmaids, that they should call to the tower; and to the walls of the city.
4 If any man is little in wit, come he to me. And wisdom spake to unwise men,
5 Come ye, eat ye my bread; and drink ye the wine, which I have meddled [or mingled] to you.
6 Forsake ye young childhood, and live ye; and go ye by the way of prudence.
7 He that teacheth a scorner, doeth wrong to himself; and he that reproveth a wicked man, engendereth a wem to himself.
8 Do not thou reprove a scorner; lest he hate thee. Reprove thou a wise man; and he shall love thee.
9 Give thou occasion to a wise man; and wisdom shall be increased to him. Teach thou a just [or rightwise] man; and he shall hasten to take it.
10 The beginning of wisdom is the dread of the Lord; and prudence is the knowing of saints.
11 For thy days shall be multiplied by me; and [the] years of life shall be increased to thee.
12 If thou art wise, thou shalt be wise to thyself, and to thy neighbours. Forsooth if thou art a scorner, thou alone shalt bear evil.
13 A fond [or foolish] woman, and full of cry, and full of unleaveful lusts, and that knoweth nothing utterly,
14 sitteth in the doors of her house, on a seat, in an high place of the city;
15 to call men passing by the way, and men going in their journey.
16 Who is a little man in wit; bow he to me. And she spake to a coward [or to the sorry-hearted],
17 Waters of theft be sweeter, and bread hid is sweeter. [Stolen waters be sweeter, and hid bread more sweet.]
18 And [he] knew not that giants be there; and the guests of her be in the depths of hell. Soothly he that shall be applied, either fastened, to her, shall go down to hells [or shall fall down into hell]. For why he that goeth away from her shall be saved.