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

Wisdom has built her house. She has carved out her seven pillars.

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

She has prepared her meat. 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:

She has sent out her maidens. She cries from the highest places of the city:

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,

“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,

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

“Come, eat some of my bread, Drink some of the wine which I have mixed!

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

Leave your simple ways, and live. Walk in the way of understanding.”

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

He who corrects a mocker invites insult. He who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.

8 R eprove not a scorner, lest he hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.

Don’t reprove a scoffer, 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.

Instruct a wise man, and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous man, 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.

The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

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

For by me your days will be multiplied. The years of your life will 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.

If you are wise, you are wise for yourself. If you mock, you alone will bear it.

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

The foolish woman is loud, Undisciplined, and knows nothing.

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

She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,

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

To call to those who pass by, who go straight on their ways,

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,

“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here.” as for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,

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

“Stolen water is sweet. Food 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).

But he doesn’t know that the departed spirits are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.