1 W isdom hath builded her house, She hath hewn out her pillars -- seven.

Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out and set up her seven pillars.

2 S he hath slaughtered her slaughter, She hath mingled her wine, Yea, she hath arranged her table.

She has killed her beasts, she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table.

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

She has sent out her maids to cry from the highest places of the town:

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

Whoever is simple (easily led astray and wavering), let him turn in here! As for him who lacks understanding, Wisdom says to him,

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

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

6 F orsake ye, the simple, and live, And be happy in the way of understanding.

Leave off, simple ones and live! And walk in the way of insight and understanding.

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

He who rebukes a scorner heaps upon himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man gets for himself bruises.

8 R eprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee, Give reproof to the wise, and he loveth thee.

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

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

Give instruction to a wise man and he will be yet wiser; teach a righteous man (one upright and in right standing with God) and he will increase in learning.

10 T he commencement of wisdom the fear of Jehovah, And a knowledge of the Holy Ones understanding.

The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning (the chief and choice part) of Wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight and understanding.

11 F or by me do thy days multiply, And added to thee are years of life.

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

12 I f thou hast been wise, thou hast been wise for thyself, And thou hast scorned -- thyself bearest.

If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scorn, you alone will bear it and pay the penalty.

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

The foolish woman is noisy; she is simple and open to all forms of evil, she knows nothing whatever.

14 A nd she hath sat at the opening of her house, On a throne -- the high places of the city,

For she sits at the door of her house or on a seat in the conspicuous places of the town,

15 T o call to those passing by the way, Who are going straight their paths.

Calling to those who pass by, who go uprightly on their way:

16 ` Who simple? let him turn aside hither.' And whoso lacketh heart -- she said to him,

Whoever is simple (wavering and easily led astray), let him turn in here! And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,

17 ` Stolen waters are sweet, And hidden bread is pleasant.'

Stolen waters (pleasures) are sweet; and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

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

But he knows not that the shades of the dead are there, and that her invited guests are in the depths of Sheol (the lower world, Hades, the place of the dead).