1 Die Wysheid het haar huis gebou, haar sewe pilare uitgekap,
2 haar slagvee geslag, haar wyn gemeng, ook haar tafel gedek.
3 Sy het haar diensmeisies uitgestuur, sy nooi uit op die hange van die stadshoogtes:
4 Wie eenvoudig is, laat hy inkom hierheen, wie verstandeloos is, vir hom sê sy:
5 Kom, eet julle van my brood, en drink van die wyn wat ek gemeng het;
6 laat staan die eenvoudigheid, dan sal julle lewe, en betree die weg van verstand.
7 Hy wat 'n spotter teregwys, behaal vir homself skande, en hy wat 'n goddelose bestraf, vir homself 'n skandvlek.
8 Bestraf 'n spotter nie, anders haat hy jou; bestraf 'n wyse, en hy sal jou liefhê.
9 Deel mee aan die wyse, en hy sal nog wyser word, leer die regverdige, en hy sal insig vermeerder.
10 Die beginsel van die wysheid is die vrees van die HERE, en kennis van die Heilige is verstand.
11 Want deur my word jou dae meer en word jare van lewe vir jou toegevoeg.
12 As jy wys is, is jy wys tot jou voordeel, en is jy 'n spotter, dan moet jy dit alleen dra.
13 Vrou Dwaasheid is onrustig, pure eenvoudigheid en heeltemal onkundig;
14 en sy sit by die deur van haar huis, op 'n stoel op die hoogtes van die stad,
15 om te nooi die wat op die weg verbygaan, die wat op hulle paaie reguit wandel:
16 Wie eenvoudig is, laat hy inkom hierheen! En die verstandelose, aan hom sê sy:
17 Gesteelde waters is soet, en brood in die geheim geëet, is lekker.
18 Maar hy weet nie dat d r skimme is, dat haar genooides in die dieptes van die doderyk is nie.
1 Wisdom has built her house.
She has carved out her seven pillars.
2 She has prepared her meat.
She has mixed her wine.
She has also set her table.
3 She has sent out her maidens.
She cries from the highest 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,
5 "Come, eat some of my bread,
Drink some of the wine which I have mixed!
6 Leave your simple ways, and live.
Walk in the way of understanding."
7 One who corrects a mocker invites insult.
One who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.
8 Don’t reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you.
Reprove a wise person, and he will love you.
9 Instruct a wise person, and he will be still wiser.
Teach a righteous person, and he will increase in learning.
10 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom.
The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied.
The years of your life will be increased.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself.
If you mock, you alone will bear it.
13 The foolish woman is loud,
undisciplined, and knows nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house,
on a seat in the high places of the city,
15 to call to those who pass by,
who go straight on their ways,
16 "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here."
As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
17 "Stolen water is sweet.
Food eaten in secret is pleasant."
18 But he doesn’t know that the departed spirits are there,
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.