1 W isdom has built her house, She has hewn out her seven pillars;

Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:

2 S he has prepared her food, she has mixed her wine; She has also set her table;

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

3 S he has sent out her maidens, she calls From the tops of the heights of the city:

She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,

4 “ Whoever is naive, let him turn in here!” To him who lacks understanding she says,

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

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

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

6 “ Forsake your folly and live, And proceed in the way of understanding.”

Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

7 H e who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself, And he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself.

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

8 D o not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you, Reprove a wise man and he will love you.

Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

9 G ive instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.

Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet 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 One is understanding.

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

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

For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.

12 I f you are wise, you are wise for yourself, And if you scoff, you alone will bear it.

If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.

13 T he woman of folly is boisterous, She is naive and knows nothing.

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

14 S he sits at the doorway of her house, On a seat by the high places of the city,

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

15 C alling to those who pass by, Who are making their paths straight:

to call passengers who go right on their ways:

16 “ Whoever is naive, let him turn in here,” And to him who lacks understanding she says,

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

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

Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

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

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