1 W isdom 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 prepared her food, she has mixed her wine; She has also set her table;

She hath slaughtered her slaughter, She hath mingled her wine, Yea, she hath arranged 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 damsels, She crieth on the tops of the high places of the city:

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

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

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

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

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

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, Give reproof to the wise, and he loveth 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 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 One is understanding.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

To call to those passing by the way, Who are going straight their paths.

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

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

17 “ Stolen water is 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, 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!