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

Wisdom has built her house. She has made seven pillars to hold it up.

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

She has cooked her food, and has mixed her wine, and she has set her table.

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

She has sent out the young women who work for her. She calls from the highest places of the city,

4 “ Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,

“Whoever is easy to fool, let him turn in here!” She says to the one without understanding,

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

“Come and eat my food, and drink the wine I have mixed.

6 F orsake foolishness and live, And go in the way of understanding.

Turn from your foolish way, and live. Walk in the way of understanding.”

7 “ He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself.

He who speaks strong words to the man who laughs at the truth brings shame upon himself. He who speaks strong words to a sinful man gets hurt.

8 D o not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.

Do not speak strong words to a man who laughs at the truth, or he will hate you. Speak strong words to a wise man, and he will love you.

9 G ive instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

Give teaching to a wise man and he will be even wiser. Teach a man who is right and good, and he will grow in learning.

10 “ The 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. To learn about 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 grow in number, and years will be added to your life.

12 I f you are wise, you are wise for yourself, And if you scoff, you will bear it alone.” The Way of Folly

If you are wise, your wisdom is a help to you. If you laugh at the truth, you alone will suffer for it.

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

A foolish woman makes much noise. She is open to sin, and knows nothing.

14 F or she sits at the door of her house, On a seat by the highest places of the city,

She sits at the door of her house or on a seat in the high places of the city.

15 T o call to those who pass by, Who go straight on their way:

She calls to those who pass by and are making their paths straight,

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

“Whoever is easy to fool, let him turn in here!” She says to the one without understanding,

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

“Stolen water is sweet. And bread eaten in secret is pleasing.”

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

But he does not know that the dead are there, and that the ones who visit her are in the bottom of hell.