1 ¶ Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out her seven pillars:

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

2 S he has killed her sacrifice; she has mingled her wine; and she has furnished her table.

She has prepared her meat. She has mixed her wine. She has also set her table.

3 S he has sent forth her maidens; she cries upon the highest places of the city,

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

4 w hosoever is simple, let him turn in here; as for those that lack understanding, she saith unto 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 mingled.

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

6 F orsake that which is foolish and live and go in the way of understanding.

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

7 H e that chastens a scorner brings shame unto himself, and he that chastens a wicked man brings himself a blot.

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

8 C hasten not a scorner lest he hate thee; chasten a wise man, and he will love thee.

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 just man, 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 fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. 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. The years of your life will be increased.

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. If you mock, you alone will bear it.

13 ¶ A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple and knows nothing.

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

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

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

15 t o call to those who pass by the way, to those who straighten their ways;

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

16 W hosoever is simple, let him turn in here; and as for him that lacks understanding, she saith unto 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 are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

“Stolen water is sweet. Food eaten in secret is pleasant.”

18 B ut he does not know that the dead are there and that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

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