| 1. Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars. |
|
א. |
| Wisdom has built her house: With wisdom has the Holy One, blessed be He, built the world. |
|
: |
| she has hewn her seven pillars: The seven days of Creation. Another explanation: This refers to the seven books of the Torah, since (Num. 10:35f.) “And it came about when the ark traveled…” is an individual book, as is stated in tractate Shabbath (116a). |
|
: |
|
| 2. She has prepared her meat; she has mingled her wine; she has even set her table. |
|
ב. |
| She has prepared her meat, she has mingled her wine: She has mixed it with water, like strong wine, that is unfit to drink unmixed. |
|
: |
| she has even set her table: All creations of liquid and solid. |
|
: |
|
| 3. She has sent her maidens, she calls on the wings of the heights of the city, |
|
ג. |
| She has sent her maidens: Adam and Eve. |
|
: |
|
| 4. "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here." To the one devoid of sense, she says to him, |
|
ד. |
| “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here”: and learn it and become wise. |
|
: |
|
| 5. "Come, partake of my bread and drink of the wine I have mingled. |
|
ה. |
| of the wine I have mingled: Heb. מסכתי. |
|
: |
|
| 6. Leave, you simpletons, and live, and step in the way of understanding." |
|
ו. |
| Leave, you simpletons: the way of simplicity and live. |
|
: |
| and step: Heb. מסכתי, an expression of stepping, as in (Job 23:11): “To his steps (באשרו) my foot was held fast.” |
|
: |
|
| 7. He who chastens a scorner takes disgrace for himself, and he who reproves a wicked man, that is his blemish. |
|
ז. |
| and he who reproves a wicked man, that is his blemish: It is a blemish to the one who reproves [him], for this one berates him and does not heed him. This is a warning that it is forbidden to talk with those who entice to worship idols, even to reprove them and to draw them near. |
|
: |
|
| 8. Reprove not a scorner lest he hate you; reprove a wise man and he will love you. |
|
ח. |
| 9. Give a wise man, and he will become yet wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. |
|
ט. |
| Give a wise man, and he will become yet wiser: To a worthy pupil, and the Midrash Aggadah (Tanchuma, Vayakhel 6) states: It was said to Noah, “From every clean animal, etc.” (Gen. 7:2), and when he went out, “And he took from all clean animals, etc.” (ibid. 8:20). He said, “What did the Holy One, blessed be He, see to increase the number of these? It is only because He wished that I offer up some of them.” |
|
: |
| teach a righteous man: wisdom, and he will increase in learning from his own knowledge in addition to what he heard. |
|
: |
|
| 10. The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord, and the knowledge of the holy ones is understanding. |
|
י. |
| and the knowledge of the holy ones: is the root of understanding. |
|
: |
|
| 11. For with me shall your days increase, and they will add to you years of life. |
|
יא. |
| and they will add to you years of life: Years of life are those of sustenance and wealth. |
|
: |
|
| 12. If you have become wise, you have become wise for yourself, and if you scorn, you will bear it alone. |
|
יב. |
| 13. The woman of folly is turbulent; [she is] simple and knows nothing. |
|
יג. |
| 14. She sits at the entrance of her house on a chair on the heights of the city, |
|
יד. |
| 15. to call the passersby, who are going straight on their ways, |
|
טו. |
| 16. "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here, and whoever is devoid of sense," and she says to him, |
|
טז. |
| and whoever is devoid of sense: (lit. and one devoid of sense.) |
|
: |
| and she says to him: these words. What does she say to him? |
|
: |
|
| 17. "Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant." |
|
יז. |
| Stolen water is sweet: The pleasure afforded by intimacy with a single woman does not equal that afforded by intimacy with a married woman. Also, regarding the commandments (other editions: sectarianism), stolen water is sweet, for they were afraid to do it in public, but did it in secret. |
|
: |
|
| 18. But he does not know that shades are there; her guests are in the depths of the grave. |