1 W isdom has built her house; she has hewn out and set up her seven pillars.

2 S he has killed her beasts, she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table.

3 S he has sent out her maids to cry from the highest places of the town:

4 W hoever is simple (easily led astray and wavering), let him turn in here! As for him who lacks understanding, Wisdom says to him,

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

6 L eave off, simple ones and live! And walk in the way of insight and understanding.

7 H e who rebukes a scorner heaps upon himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man gets for himself bruises.

8 R eprove not a scorner, lest he 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 righteous man (one upright and in right standing with God) and he will increase in learning.

10 T he reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning (the chief and choice part) of Wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight and understanding.

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

12 I f you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scorn, you alone will bear it and pay the penalty.

13 T he foolish woman is noisy; she is simple and open to all forms of evil, she knows nothing whatever.

14 F or she sits at the door of her house or on a seat in the conspicuous places of the town,

15 C alling to those who pass by, who go uprightly on their way:

16 W hoever is simple (wavering and easily led astray), let him turn in here! And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,

17 S tolen waters (pleasures) are sweet; and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

18 B ut he knows not that the shades of the dead are there, and that her invited guests are in the depths of Sheol (the lower world, Hades, the place of the dead).