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

Wisdom hath builded her house, She hath hewn out her pillars -- seven.

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

She hath slaughtered her slaughter, She hath mingled her wine, Yea, she hath arranged her table.

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

She hath sent forth her damsels, She crieth on the tops of the high places of the city:

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

`Who simple? let him turn aside hither.' Whoso lacketh heart: she hath said to him,

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

`Come, eat of my bread, And drink of the wine I have mingled.

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

Forsake ye, the simple, and live, And be happy 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.

The instructor of a scorner Is receiving for it -- shame, And a reprover of the wicked -- his blemish.

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

Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee, Give reproof to the wise, and he loveth thee.

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 to the wise, and he is wiser still, Make known to the righteous, And he increaseth learning.

10 T he fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

The commencement of wisdom the fear of Jehovah, And a knowledge of the Holy Ones understanding.

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

For by me do thy days multiply, And added to thee are years of life.

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

If thou hast been wise, thou hast been wise for thyself, And thou hast scorned -- thyself bearest.

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

A foolish woman noisy, Simple, and hath not known what.

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

And she hath sat at the opening of her house, On a throne -- 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 passing by the way, Who are going straight their paths.

16 W hosoever is simple, let him turn in here; and as for him that lacks understanding, she saith unto him:

`Who simple? let him turn aside hither.' And whoso lacketh heart -- she said to him,

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

`Stolen waters are sweet, And hidden bread is pleasant.'

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

And he hath not known that Rephaim there, In deep places of Sheol her invited ones!