1 W isdom has built her house. She has made seven pillars to hold it up.

¶ Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out her seven pillars:

2 S he has cooked her food, and has mixed her wine, and she has set her table.

She has killed her sacrifice; she has mingled her wine; and she has furnished her table.

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

She has sent forth her maidens; she cries upon the highest places of the city,

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

whosoever is simple, let him turn in here; as for those that lack understanding, she saith unto him,

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

Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.

6 T urn from your foolish way, and live. Walk in the way of understanding.”

Forsake that which is foolish and live and go in the way of understanding.

7 H e 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.

He that chastens a scorner brings shame unto himself, and he that chastens a wicked man brings himself a blot.

8 D o 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.

Chasten not a scorner lest he hate thee; chasten a wise man, and he will love thee.

9 G ive 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.

Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

10 T he fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. To learn about the Holy One is understanding.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

11 F or by me your days will grow in number, and years will be added to your life.

For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.

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

If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself; but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.

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

¶ A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple and knows nothing.

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

For she sits at the door of her house on a seat in the high places of the city

15 S he calls to those who pass by and are making their paths straight,

to call to those who pass by the way, to those who straighten their ways;

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

Whosoever is simple, let him turn in here; and as for him that lacks understanding, she saith unto him:

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

Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

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

But he does not know that the dead are there and that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.