Chapter 9
Wisdom invites all to her feast. Folly calls another way.
1 Wisdom has built a house for herself. She has hewn seven columns.
חָ֭כְמוֹתח֭כמותחָכְמוֹתחכמותCha.khe.motwisdom<s>H2451HNcfpa בָּנְתָ֣הבנת֣הבָּנְתָהבנתהba.ne.Tahshe has builtH1129HVqp3fs בֵיתָ֑/הּבית֑/הבֵיתָ/הּבית/הvei.Ta/hhouse/ herH1004BH9024HNcmsc+Sp3fs חָצְבָ֖החצב֖החָצְבָהחצבהcha.tze.Vahshe has hewnH2672HVqp3fs עַמּוּדֶ֣י/הָעמוד֣י/העַמּוּדֶי/הָעמודי/ה'a.mu.Dei./hapillars/ herH5982GH9024HNcmpc+Sp3fs שִׁבְעָֽה\׃שבעה\שִׁבְעָֽה\׃שבעה\shiv.'AhsevenH7651\H9016HAcbsa 2 She has immolated her victims. She has mixed her wine and set forth her table.1
טָבְחָ֣הטבח֣הטָבְחָהטבחהta.ve.Chahshe has slaughteredH2873HVqp3fs טִ֭בְחָ/הּט֭בח/הטִבְחָ/הּטבח/הTiv.cha/hslaughtering/ herH2874H9024HNcmsc+Sp3fs מָסְכָ֣המסכ֣המָסְכָהמסכהma.se.Khahshe has mixedH4537HVqp3fs יֵינָ֑/הּיינ֑/היֵינָ/הּיינ/הyei.Na/hwine/ herH3196H9024HNcmsc+Sp3fs אַ֝֗ףא֝֗ףאַףאף'AfalsoH0637HTj עָֽרְכָ֥הערכ֥העָֽרְכָהערכה'a.re.Khahshe has arrangedH6186AHVqp3fs שֻׁלְחָנָֽ/הּ\׃שלחנ/ה\שֻׁלְחָנָֽ/הּ\׃שלחנ/ה\shul.cha.Na/htable/ herH7979H9024\H9016HNcmsc+Sp3fs - 9:2Wine was mixed with water for drinking in ancient times. This purified the water and prevented those who drank from becoming too inebriated. The mixing of wine with water also has symbolic meaning.(Conte)
3 She has sent her maids to call out to the tower and to the fortified walls of the city,
שָֽׁלְחָ֣השלח֣השָֽׁלְחָהשלחהsha.le.Chahshe has sent outH7971GHVqp3fs נַעֲרֹתֶ֣י/הָנערת֣י/הנַעֲרֹתֶי/הָנערתי/הna.'a.ro.Tei./hafemale servants/ herH5291H9024HNcfpc+Sp3fs תִקְרָ֑אתקר֑אתִקְרָאתקראtik.Ra'she calls outH7121IHVqi3fs גַּ֝פֵּ֗יג֝פ֗יגַּפֵּיגפיga.Pei[the] elevations ofH1610HNcmpc מְרֹ֣מֵימר֣מימְרֹמֵימרמיme.Ro.mei[the] heights ofH4791HNcmpc קָֽרֶת\׃קרת\קָֽרֶת\׃קרת\Ka.ret[the] townH7176\H9016HNcfsa 4 “If anyone is little, let him come to me.” And to the unwise, she has said:
פֶ֭תִיפ֭תיפֶתִיפתיFe.ti[is] naiveH6612AHNcmsa יָסֻ֣ריס֣ריָסֻריסרya.Surlet him turn asideH5493HHVqi3ms הֵ֑נָּהה֑נההֵנָּההנהHe.nahhereH2008HD חֲסַר\־חסר\חֲסַר\־חסר\cha.sar-[one] lacking ofH2638\H9014HAamsc לֵ֝֗בל֝֗בלֵבלבLevheartH3820AHNcmsa אָ֣מְרָהא֣מרהאָמְרָהאמרה'A.me.rahshe saysH0559HVqp3fs 5 “Approach. Eat my bread, and drink the wine that I have mixed for you.
לְ֭כוּל֭כולְכוּלכוLe.khucomeH1980KHVqv2mp לַחֲמ֣וּלחמ֣ולַחֲמוּלחמוla.cha.MueatH3898BHVqv2mp בְֽ/לַחֲמִ֑/יב/לחמ֑/יבְֽ/לַחֲמִ/יב/לחמ/יve./la.cha.M/iin/ food/ myH9003H3899HH9020HR+Ncbsc+Sp1ms וּ֝/שְׁת֗וּו֝/שת֗ווּ/שְׁתוּו/שתוu./she.Tuand/ drinkH9002H8354HC+Vqv2mp בְּ/יַ֣יִןב/י֣יןבְּ/יַיִןב/ייןbe./Ya.yinin/ [the] wineH9003H3196HR+Ncmsa מָסָֽכְתִּי\׃מסכתי\מָסָֽכְתִּי\׃מסכתי\ma.Sa.khe.ti[which] I have mixedH4537\H9016HVqp1cs 6 Leave behind childishness. And live and walk by the ways of prudence.”
עִזְב֣וּעזב֣ועִזְבוּעזבו'iz.VuabandonH5800AHVqv2mp פְתָאיִ֣םפתאי֣םפְתָאיִםפתאיםfe.ta.Yimfoolish thingsH6612AHNcmpa וִֽ/חְי֑וּו/חי֑ווִֽ/חְיוּו/חיוvi/ch.Yuand/ liveH9002H2421HC+Vqv2mp וְ֝/אִשְׁר֗וּו֝/אשר֗ווְ/אִשְׁרוּו/אשרוve./'ish.Ruand/ advanceH9002H0833HC+Vqv2mp בְּ/דֶ֣רֶךְב/ד֣רךבְּ/דֶרֶךְב/דרךbe./De.rekhin/ [the] way ofH9003H1870GHR+Ncbsc בִּינָֽה\׃בינה\בִּינָֽה\׃בינה\bi.NahunderstandingH0998\H9016HNcfsa 7 Whoever teaches a mocker causes injury to himself. And whoever argues with the impious produces a blemish on himself.
יֹ֤סֵ֨ר\׀י֤ס֨ר\יֹסֵר\׀יסר\yo.Ser[one who] admonishesH3256\H9015HVqrmsa לֵ֗ץל֗ץלֵץלץLetza mockerH3887HAamsa לֹקֵ֣חַֽלק֣חלֹקֵחַֽלקחlo.Ke.ach[is] receivingH3947HHVqrmsa קָל֑וֹןקל֑וןקָלוֹןקלוןka.LonshameH7036HNcmsa וּ/מוֹכִ֖יחַו/מוכ֖יחוּ/מוֹכִיחַו/מוכיחu./mo.Khi.achand/ [one who] reprovesH9002H3198HC+Vhrmsa לְ/רָשָׁ֣על/רש֣עלְ/רָשָׁעל/רשעle./ra.Sha'<to>/ a wicked [person]H9005H7563HR+Ncmsa 8 Do not be willing to argue with a mocker, lest he hate you. Dispute with the wise, and he will love you.
תּ֣וֹכַחת֣וכחתּוֹכַחתוכחTo.khachyou reproveH3198HVhj2ms לֵ֭ץל֭ץלֵץלץletza mockerH3887HAamsa יִשְׂנָאֶ֑/ךָּישנא֑/ךיִשְׂנָאֶ/ךָּישנא/ךyis.na.'E./kahe should hate/ youH8130H9031HVqi3ms+Sp2ms הוֹכַ֥חהוכ֥חהוֹכַחהוכחho.KhachreproveH3198HVhv2ms לְ֝/חָכָ֗םל֝/חכ֗םלְ/חָכָםל/חכםle./cha.Kham<to>/ a wise [person]H9005H2450HR+Aamsa וְ/יֶאֱהָבֶֽ/ךָּ\׃ו/יאהב/ך\וְ/יֶאֱהָבֶֽ/ךָּ\׃ו/יאהב/ך\ve./ye.'e.ha.Ve./kaand/ he will love/ youH9002H0157GH9031\H9016HC+Vqu3ms+Sp2ms 9 Present an opportunity to the wise, and wisdom shall be added to him. Teach the just, and he will hurry to receive it.
תֵּ֣ןת֣ןתֵּןתןtengiveH5414GHVqv2ms לְ֭/חָכָםל֭/חכםלְ/חָכָםל/חכםLe./cha.khomto/ a wise [person]H9005H2450HR+Aamsa וְ/יֶחְכַּם\־ו/יחכם\וְ/יֶחְכַּם\־ו/יחכם\ve./yech.kam-so/ he may be wiseH9002H2449\H9014HC+Vqu3ms ע֑וֹדע֑ודעוֹדעודodyetH5750HAcmsa הוֹדַ֥עהוד֥עהוֹדַעהודעho.Da'make knownH3045HVhv2ms לְ֝/צַדִּ֗יקל֝/צד֗יקלְ/צַדִּיקל/צדיקle./tza.Dikto/ a righteous [person]H9005H6662HR+Aamsa וְ/י֣וֹסֶףו/י֣וסףוְ/יוֹסֶףו/יוסףve./Yo.sefso/ may he increaseH9002H3254HHC+Vhj3ms 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of holiness is prudence.
תְּחִלַּ֣תתחל֣תתְּחִלַּתתחלתte.chi.Lat[is the] beginning ofH8462HNcfsc חָ֭כְמָהח֭כמהחָכְמָהחכמהchokh.mahwisdomH2451HNcfsa יִרְאַ֣תירא֣תיִרְאַתיראתyir.'At[the] fear ofH3374HNcfsc יְהוָ֑היהו֑היְהוָהיהוהYah.wehYahwehH3068GHNpt וְ/דַ֖עַתו/ד֖עתוְ/דַעַתו/דעתve./Da.'atand/ [the] knowledge ofH9002H1847HC+Ncfsc קְדֹשִׁ֣יםקדש֣יםקְדֹשִׁיםקדשיםke.do.Shim[the] holy [one<s>]H6918GHAampa בִּינָֽה\׃בינה\בִּינָֽה\׃בינה\bi.Nah[is] understandingH0998\H9016HNcfsa 11 For by me, your days will be multiplied and years of life will be added to you.
יִרְבּ֣וּירב֣ויִרְבּוּירבוyir.Buthey will increaseH7235AHVqi3mp יָמֶ֑י/ךָימ֑י/ךיָמֶי/ךָימי/ךya.Mei./khadays/ yourH3117GH9021HNcmpc+Sp2ms וְ/יוֹסִ֥יפוּו/יוס֥יפווְ/יוֹסִיפוּו/יוסיפוve./yo.Si.fuso/ they may addH9002H3254HHC+Vhu3mp לְּ֝/ךָ֗ל֝/ך֗לְּ/ךָל/ךle./khato/ youH9005H9031HR+Sp2ms שְׁנ֣וֹתשנ֣ותשְׁנוֹתשנותshe.Notyears ofH8141HNcfpc חַיִּֽים\׃חיים\חַיִּֽים\׃חיים\chai.YimlifeH2416E\H9016HNcmpa 12 If you would be wise, you will be so for yourself. But if you would be one who ridicules, you alone shall carry the evil.
חָ֭כַמְתָּח֭כמתחָכַמְתָּחכמתCha.kham.tayou are wiseH2449HVqp2ms חָכַ֣מְתָּחכ֣מתחָכַמְתָּחכמתcha.Kham.tayou are wiseH2449HVqp2ms לָּ֑/ךְל֑/ךלָּ/ךְל/ךLa/khfor/ yourselfH9005H9032HR+Sp2ms וְ֝/לַ֗צְתָּו֝/ל֗צתוְ/לַצְתָּו/לצתve./Latz.taand/ you mockH9001H3887Hc+Vqq2ms לְֽ/בַדְּ/ךָ֥ל/בד/ך֥לְֽ/בַדְּ/ךָל/בד/ךle./va.de./Khato/ alone/ youH9005H0905HH9031HR+Ncmsc+Sp2ms תִשָּֽׂא\׃תשא\תִשָּֽׂא\׃תשא\ti.Sa'you will bear [it]H5375H\H9016HVqi2ms 13 A foolish and loud woman, who is full of enticements and who knows nothing at all,
אֵ֣שֶׁתא֣שתאֵשֶׁתאשת'E.sheta woman ofH0802GHNcfsc כְּ֭סִילוּתכ֭סילותכְּסִילוּתכסילותKe.si.lutfollyH3687HNcfsa הֹֽמִיָּ֑ההמי֑ההֹֽמִיָּההמיהho.mi.Yah[is] boisterousH1993HVqrfsa פְּ֝תַיּ֗וּתפ֝תי֗ותפְּתַיּוּתפתיותpe.tai.YutnaiveteH6615HNcfsa יָ֥דְעָהי֥דעהיָדְעָהידעהYa.de.'ahshe knowsH3045HVqp3fs 14 sat at the entrance of her house on a seat, in a high place of the city,
וְֽ֭/יָשְׁבָהו֭/ישבהוְֽ/יָשְׁבָהו/ישבהVe./ya.she.vahand/ she sitsH9001H3427Hc+Vqq3fs לְ/פֶ֣תַחל/פ֣תחלְ/פֶתַחל/פתחle./Fe.tachto/ [the] doorway ofH9005H6607HR+Ncmsc בֵּיתָ֑/הּבית֑/הבֵּיתָ/הּבית/הbei.Ta/hhouse/ herH1004BH9024HNcmsc+Sp3fs כִּ֝סֵּ֗אכ֝ס֗אכִּסֵּאכסאki.Se'a seatH3678IHNcmsa מְרֹ֣מֵימר֣מימְרֹמֵימרמיme.Ro.mei[the] heights ofH4791HNcmpc קָֽרֶת\׃קרת\קָֽרֶת\׃קרת\Ka.ret[the] townH7176\H9016HNcfsa 15 so as to call to those who were passing by the way and continuing on their journey:
לִ/קְרֹ֥אל/קר֥אלִ/קְרֹאל/קראli/k.Ro'to/ call outH9005H7121GHR+Vqcc לְ/עֹֽבְרֵי\־ל/עברי\לְ/עֹֽבְרֵי\־ל/עברי\le./'oe.rei-to/ [those who] pass by ofH9005H5674A\H9014HR+Vqrmpc דָ֑רֶךְד֑רךדָרֶךְדרךDa.rekh[the] roadH1870LHNcbsa הַֽ֝/מְיַשְּׁרִ֗יםה֝/מישר֗יםהַֽ/מְיַשְּׁרִיםה/מישריםha/m.ya.she.Rimthose/ [who] make straightH9009H3474HTd+Vprmpa אֹֽרְחוֹתָֽ/ם\׃ארחות/ם\אֹֽרְחוֹתָֽ/ם\׃ארחות/ם\'O.re.cho.Ta/mpaths/ theirH0734H9028\H9016HNcfpc+Sp3mp 16 “Whoever is little, let him turn aside to me.” And to the frenzied, she said,1
פֶ֭תִיפ֭תיפֶתִיפתיFe.ti[is] naiveH6612AHNcmsa יָסֻ֣ריס֣ריָסֻריסרya.Surlet him turn asideH5493HHVqi3ms הֵ֑נָּהה֑נההֵנָּההנהHe.nahhereH2008HD וַ/חֲסַר\־ו/חסר\וַ/חֲסַר\־ו/חסר\va./cha.sar-and/ [one] lacking ofH9002H2638\H9014HC+Aamsc לֵ֝֗בל֝֗בלֵבלבLevheartH3820AHNcmsa וְ/אָ֣מְרָהו/א֣מרהוְ/אָמְרָהו/אמרהve./'A.me.rahand/ she saysH9001H0559Hc+Vqq3fs - 9:16Notice that the foolish woman imitates wisdom personified (both represented as feminine). They both call out to whoever is little, but the call from the foolish woman is false.(Conte)
17 “Stolen waters are more soothing, and secret bread is more pleasant.”
גְּנוּבִ֥יםגנוב֥יםגְּנוּבִיםגנוביםge.nu.VimstolenH1589HVqsmpa יִמְתָּ֑קוּימת֑קויִמְתָּקוּימתקוyim.Ta.kuthey are sweetH4985HVqi3mp וְ/לֶ֖חֶםו/ל֖חםוְ/לֶחֶםו/לחםve./Le.chemand/ bread ofH9002H3899HHC+Ncmsc סְתָרִ֣יםסתר֣יםסְתָרִיםסתריםse.ta.Rimsecret placesH5643AHNcmpa יִנְעָֽם\׃ינעם\יִנְעָֽם\׃ינעם\yin.'Amit is delightfulH5276\H9016HVqi3ms 18 And he did not know that giants are there, and that her companions are in the depths of Hell.
יָ֭דַעי֭דעיָדַעידעYa.da'he knowsH3045HVqp3ms רְפָאִ֣יםרפא֣יםרְפָאִיםרפאיםre.fa.'Im[the] shadesH7496HNcmpa שָׁ֑םש֑םשָׁםשםSham[are] thereH8033GHD בְּ/עִמְקֵ֖יב/עמק֖יבְּ/עִמְקֵיב/עמקיbe./'im.Kei[are] in/ [the] depths ofH9003H6012HR+Ncmpc שְׁא֣וֹלשא֣ולשְׁאוֹלשאולshe.'olSheolH7585HNcbsa קְרֻאֶֽי/הָ\׃\ \פקראי/ה\\ \פקְרֻאֶֽי/הָ\׃\ \פקראי/ה\\ \פke.ru.'Ei./hainvited [ones]/ herH7121GH9024\H9016\ \H9017HVqsmpc+Sp3fs