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

Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her seven pillars;

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

She has prepared her food, 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 maidens, she calls From the tops of the heights of the city:

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

“ Whoever is naive, let him turn in here!” To him who lacks understanding she says,

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

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

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

“ Forsake your folly and live, And proceed in the way of understanding.”

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

He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself, And he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself.

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

Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will 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 still wiser, Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.

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

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

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

For by me your days will be multiplied, And years of life will be added to you.

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, And if you scoff, you alone will bear it.

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

The woman of folly is boisterous, She is naive and knows nothing.

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

She sits at the doorway of her house, On a seat by the high places of the city,

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

Calling to those who pass by, Who are making their paths straight:

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

“ Whoever is naive, let him turn in here,” And to him who lacks understanding she says,

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

“Stolen water is 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 does not know that the dead are there, That her guests are in the depths of Sheol.