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 slaughtered her meat, She has mixed her wine, She has also furnished 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 cries out from the highest places of the city,

She hath sent forth her damsels, She crieth on the tops of the high places of the city:

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

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

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

`Come, eat of my bread, And drink of the wine I have mingled.

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

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

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

8 D o not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke 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 just man, and he will increase in learning.

Give to the wise, and he is wiser still, Make known to the righteous, And he increaseth learning.

10 “ The 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 will bear it alone.” The Way of Folly

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

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

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

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

And she hath sat at the opening of her house, On a throne -- 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 passing by the way, Who are going straight their paths.

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

`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 hell.

And he hath not known that Rephaim there, In deep places of Sheol her invited ones!