1 W isdom hath built 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 slaughtered her cattle, she hath mingled her wine, she hath also prepared her table;

She has slaughtered her meat, She has mixed her wine, She has also furnished her table.

3 s he hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the summits of the high places of the city,

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

4 W hoso is simple, let him turn in hither. To him that is void of understanding, she saith,

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

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

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

6 F orsake follies and live, and go in the way of intelligence.

Forsake foolishness and live, And go in the way of understanding.

7 H e that instructeth a scorner getteth to himself shame; and he that reproveth a wicked to himself a blot.

“He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself.

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

Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.

9 I mpart to a wise, and he will become yet wiser; teach a righteous, and he will increase learning.

Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

10 T he fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the Holy is intelligence.

“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 years of life shall be added to thee.

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

12 I f thou art wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself; and if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.

If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, And if you scoff, you will bear it alone.” The Way of Folly

13 T he foolish woman is clamorous; she is stupid, and knoweth nothing.

A foolish woman is clamorous; She is simple, and knows nothing.

14 A nd she sitteth at the entry of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,

For she sits at the door of her house, On a seat by the highest places of the city,

15 t o call passers-by who go right on their ways:

To call to those who pass by, Who go straight on their way:

16 W hoso is simple, let him turn in hither. And to him that is void of understanding she saith,

“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here”; And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,

17 S tolen waters are sweet, and the bread of secrecy is pleasant.

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

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

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