1 W isdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:

Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her seven pillars;

2 s he hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.

She has prepared her food, she has mixed her wine; She has also set her table;

3 S he hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,

She has sent out her maidens, she calls From the tops of the heights of the city:

4 W hoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

“ Whoever is naive, let him turn in here!” To him who lacks understanding she says,

5 C ome, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.

“Come, eat of my food And drink of the wine I have mixed.

6 F orsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

“ Forsake your folly and live, And proceed in the way of understanding.”

7 H e that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.

He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself, And he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself.

8 R eprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you, Reprove a wise man and he will love you.

9 G ive instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.

10 T he fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

11 F or by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.

For by me your days will be multiplied, And years of life will be added to you.

12 I f thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.

If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, And if you scoff, you alone will bear it.

13 A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.

The woman of folly is boisterous, She is naive and knows nothing.

14 F or she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,

She sits at the doorway of her house, On a seat by the high places of the city,

15 t o call passengers who go right on their ways:

Calling to those who pass by, Who are making their paths straight:

16 W hoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

“ Whoever is naive, let him turn in here,” And to him who lacks understanding she says,

17 S tolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

“Stolen water is sweet; And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”

18 B ut he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

But he does not know that the dead are there, That her guests are in the depths of Sheol.