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

Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her seven pillars;

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

She has slaughtered her meat, She has mixed her wine, She has also furnished her table.

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

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

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

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

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

Forsake foolishness 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 who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself.

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

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 still wiser, Teach a righteous man and he will increase his 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 One 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 your days will be multiplied, And years of life will be added to you.

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

12 I f you are wise, you are wise for yourself, And if you scoff, you alone will 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 T he woman of folly is boisterous, She is naive and knows nothing.

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

14 S he sits at the doorway of her house, On a seat by 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 C alling to those who pass by, Who are making their paths straight:

To call to those who pass by, Who go straight on their way:

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

“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here”; And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,

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

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