1 Wisdom built her house. She carved her seven pillars.
2 She prepared her food and mixed her wine. She furnished her table.
3 She sent her maidens. She cried on the highest places of the city,
4 »Who is simple? Let him turn in here! He who lacks understanding,« she says to him,
5 »Come eat my bread, and drink the wine that I have mixed.
6 »Forsake the foolish, and live. Travel in the way of understanding.«
7 Correct a scoffer and get dishonor for yourself. Rebuke a wicked man and receive insults.
8 Correct a scoffer mockerscorner and he will hate you. Reprove a wise man and he will love you.
9 Give instruction to a wise man and he will become even wiser. Teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning insight.
10 Respect for Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom. Knowledge of the holy One is understanding discernmenttruthwisdom.
11 I will increase your days. I will add more years to your life.
12 When you are wise you are wise for yourself. When you scoff you bear it alone.
13 A foolish woman is noisy. She has no sense at all.
14 She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
15 to call those who pass by who go straight on their way:
16 »Let the inexperienced naïve one come in here,« and to the person who lacks understanding she says:
17 »Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.«
18 He does not know the dead are there. Her guests are in the depths of the grave.