1 W isdom has built her house. She has carved out her seven pillars.

Wisdom hath built her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars;

2 S he has prepared her meat. She has mixed her wine. She has also set her table.

she hath slaughtered her cattle, she hath mingled her wine, she hath also prepared her table;

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

she hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the summits of the high places of the city,

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

Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither. To him that is void of understanding, she saith,

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

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

6 L eave your simple ways, and live. Walk in the way of understanding.”

Forsake follies and live, and go in the way of intelligence.

7 H e who corrects a mocker invites insult. He who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.

He that instructeth a scorner getteth to himself shame; and he that reproveth a wicked to himself a blot.

8 D on’t reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you. Reprove a wise man, and he will love you.

Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee; reprove a wise, and he will love thee.

9 I nstruct a wise man, and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

Impart to a wise, and he will become yet wiser; teach a righteous, and he will increase learning.

10 T he fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the Holy is intelligence.

11 F or by me your days will be multiplied. The years of your life will be increased.

For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and years of life shall be added to thee.

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

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

13 T he foolish woman is loud, Undisciplined, and knows nothing.

The foolish woman is clamorous; she is stupid, and knoweth nothing.

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

And she sitteth at the entry 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 ways,

to call passers-by who go right on their ways:

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

Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither. And to him that is void of understanding she saith,

17 “ Stolen water is sweet. Food eaten in secret is pleasant.”

Stolen waters are sweet, and the bread of secrecy is pleasant.

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

But he knoweth not that the dead are there; her guests are in the depths of Sheol.