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.
1 Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out her seven pillars:
2 She has killed her sacrifice; she has mingled her wine; and she has furnished her table.
3 She has sent forth her maidens; she cries upon the highest places of the city,
4 whosoever [is] simple, let him turn in here; [as for] those that lack understanding, she saith unto him,
5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine [which] I have mingled.
6 Forsake that which is foolish and live and go in the way of understanding.
7 He that chastens a scorner brings shame unto himself, and he that chastens a wicked [man brings] himself a blot.
8 Chasten not a scorner lest he hate thee; chasten a wise man, and he will love thee.
9 Give [instruction] to a wise [man], and he will be yet wiser; teach a just [man], and he will increase in learning.
10 The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the holy [is] understanding.
11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.
12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself; but [if] thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear [it].
13 A foolish woman [is] clamorous: [she is] simple and knows nothing.
14 For 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 the way, to those who straighten their ways;
16 Whosoever [is] simple, let him turn in here; and [as for] him that lacks understanding, she saith unto him:
17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread [eaten] in secret is pleasant.
18 But he does not know that the dead [are] there [and that] her guests [are] in the depths of Sheol.: