1 W isdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:

Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out and set up her seven pillars.

2 S he hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.

She has killed her beasts, she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table.

3 S he hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,

She has sent out her maids to cry from the highest places of the town:

4 W hoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

Whoever 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 mingled.

Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine which I have mixed.

6 F orsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

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

7 H e that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.

He 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 thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

Reprove 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 just man, and he will increase in learning.

Give 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 fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

The 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 thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.

For by me your days shall be multiplied, and the years of your life shall 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 scorn, you alone will bear it and pay the penalty.

13 A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.

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

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

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

15 T o call passengers who go right on their ways:

Calling to those who pass by, who go uprightly on their way:

16 W hoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

Whoever 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 are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

Stolen waters (pleasures) are sweet; and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

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

But 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).