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

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

“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” As for him who lacks understanding, she 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 I have mixed.

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

Forsake foolishness and live, And go 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 shame for himself, And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself.

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

Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke 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 just man, 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 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 will bear it alone.” The Way of Folly

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

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

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, On a seat by the highest places of the city,

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

To call to those who pass by, Who go straight on their way:

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

“Whoever is simple, 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 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 hell.