الحكمة والجهالة
1 الحِكمةُ بنَت بَيتَها
ونحَتَت أعمِدَتَها السَّبعةَ.
2 ذبَحَت ذبائِحَها ومزَجَت خمرَها،
وهيَّأت مائِدةَ طَعامِها.
3 أرسَلَت جَواريَها تُنادي
مِنْ فَوقِ أعالي المدينةِ:
4 «حَيِّدْ إلى هُنا يا جاهلُ!»
وتقولُ لِمَنْ يُعوِزُهُ الفهْمُ:
5 «تعالَ كُلْ مِنْ طَعامي
واشربِ الخمرَ الّتي مزَجْتُ».
6 أُتركوا الجَهالةَ فتَحيَوا،
وسيروا في طريقِ الفِطنَةِ.
7 مَنْ أدَّبَ السَّاخرَ يُهانُ،
ومَنْ وَبَّخَ الشِّرِّيرَ يُعابُ.
8 تؤنِّبُ السَّاخرَ فيُبغِضُكَ،
وتَلومُ الحكيمَ فيُحِبُّكَ.
9 أفِدِ الحكيمَ فيزدادَ حِكمةً
وعَلِّمِ الصِّدِّيقَ فيزدادَ عِلْمُهُ.
10 بَدءُ الحِكْمةِ أنْ تخافَ الرّبَّ
وتـتَبَيَّنَ مَعرِفةَ القدُّوسِ.
11 بها تَكثُرُ أيّامُكَ
وتـتَزايدُ سِنُوّ حياتِكَ.
12 إنْ كُنتَ حكيما فلِنَفسِكَ،
أو ساخِرا فعلَيكَ وحدَكَ.
13 المَرأةُ البليدَةُ ثرثارَةٌ،
جاهِلةٌ لا تَعرِفُ شيئا.
14 تَجلِسُ عِندَ بابِ بَيتِها
على مَقعَدٍ في أعالي المدينةِ
15 وتقولُ لِعابِرِي الطَّريقِ،
السَّائرينَ في حالِ سبـيلِهِم:
16 «حَيِّدْ إلى هُنا يا جاهلُ».
وتقولُ لِمَنْ يُعوزُهُ الفهْمُ:
17 «تَجَرَّعْ مياهَ العاهِرةِ،
وتَنَعَّمْ بِـخُبزها في الخِفيَةِ».
18 ظِلالُ الموتِ، لو يَعرِفُ، عِندَها!
وفي أعماقِ عالَمِ الأمواتِ ضُيوفُها.
1 Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: 2 She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table. 3 She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city, 4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, 5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. 6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding. 7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. 8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. 9 Give instruction to a wise man , and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man , and he will increase in learning. 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. 11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased. 12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it .
13 ¶ A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. 14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, 15 To call passengers who go right on their ways: 16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, 17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. 18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.