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

Wisdom has built her house. She has carved out her seven pillars.

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

She has prepared her meat. She has mixed her wine. She has also 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 her maidens. She cries 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 simple, let him turn in here!” As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,

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

“Come, eat some of my bread, Drink some of the wine which I have mixed!

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

Leave your simple ways, 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 corrects a mocker invites insult. He who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.

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

Don’t reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you. Reprove 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.

Instruct a wise man, and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous man, and he will increase 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 Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. 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. The years of your life will be increased.

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, you are wise for yourself. If you mock, you alone will bear it.

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

The foolish woman is loud, Undisciplined, 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, 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:

To call to those who pass by, who go straight on their ways,

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

“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here.” as for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,

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

“Stolen water is sweet. Food 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 hell.

But he doesn’t know that the departed spirits are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.