1 W isdom hath builded 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 killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished 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 highest 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: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” As for him who lacks understanding, she 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 I have mixed.

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

Forsake foolishness and live, And go in the way of 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 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: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke 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 still wiser; Teach a just 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 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 the years of thy life shall be increased.

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

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, And if you scoff, you will bear it alone.” The Way of Folly

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

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

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, On a seat by the highest places of the city,

15 T o call passengers 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 as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

“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 bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

“Stolen water is 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 does not know that the dead are there, That her guests are in the depths of hell.