Proverbs 9 — BST

9Verse 1Wisdom has built a house for herself, and set up seven pillars.^{Verse 2}She has killed her beasts; she has mingled her wine in a bowl, and prepared her table.^{Verse 3}She has sent forth her servants, calling with a loud proclamation to the feast, saying,^{Verse 4}Whoso is foolish, let him turn aside to me: and to them that want understanding she says,^{Verse 5}Come, eat of my bread, and drink wine which I have mingled for you.^{Verse 6}Leave folly, that ye may reign for ever; and seek⁺wisdom, and improve understanding by knowledge.^{Verse 7}He that reproves evil men shall get dishonour to himself; and he that rebukes an ungodly man shall disgrace himself.^{Verse 8}Rebuke not evil men, lest they should hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.^{Verse 9}Give an opportunity to a wise man, and he will be wiser: instruct a just man, and he will receive more instruction.^{Verse 10}The fear of the Lord is the⁺beginning of wisdom, and the counsel of saints is understanding:^{Verse 10}for to know the law is the character of a sound mind.^{Verse 11}For in this way thou shalt live long, and years of thy life shall be added to thee.^{Verse 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.^{Verse 12+}He that stays himself upon falsehoods, attempts to rule the winds, and the same will pursue birds in their flight:^{Verse 12}for he has forsaken the ways of his own vineyard, and he has caused the axles of his own husbandry to go astray;^{Verse 12}and he goes through a dry desert, and a land appointed to drought, and he gathers barrenness with his hands.^{Verse 13}A foolish and bold woman, who knows not modesty, comes to want a morsel.^{Verse 14}She sits at the doors of her house, on a seat openly in the streets,^{Verse 15}calling to passers by, and to those that are going right on their ways;^{Verse 16}saying, Whoso is most senseless of you, let him turn aside to me; and I exhort those that want prudence, saying,^{Verse 17}Take and enjoy secret bread, and the sweet water of theft.^{Verse 18}But he knows that mighty men die by her, and he falls in with a snare of hell.^{Verse 18}But hasten away, delay not in the place, neither fix thine eye upon her:^{Verse 18}for thus shalt thou go through strange water;^{Verse 18}but do thou abstain from strange water, and drink not of a strange fountain,^{Verse 18}that thou mayest live long, and years of life may be added to thee.