1 Wisedome hath built her house, and hewen out her seuen pillars. 2 She hath killed her vitailes, drawen her wine, and prepared her table. 3 She hath sent forth her maydens and cryeth vpon the highest places of the citie, saying, 4 Who so is simple, let him come hither, and to him that is destitute of wisedome, she sayth, 5 Come, and eate of my meate, and drinke of the wine that I haue drawen. 6 Forsake your way, ye foolish, and ye shall liue: and walke in the way of vnderstanding. 7 He that reproueth a scorner, purchaseth to himselfe shame: and he that rebuketh the wicked, getteth himselfe a blot. 8 Rebuke not a scorner, least he hate thee: but rebuke a wise man, and he will loue thee. 9 Giue admonition to the wise, and he will be the wiser: teache a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. 10 The beginning of wisedome is the feare of the Lord, and the knowledge of holy things, is vnderstanding. 11 For thy dayes shalbe multiplied by me, and the yeeres of thy life shalbe augmented. 12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thy selfe, and if thou be a scorner, thou alone shalt suffer. 13 A foolish woman is troublesome: she is ignorant, and knoweth nothing. 14 But she sitteth at the doore of her house on a seate in the hie places of the citie, 15 To call them that passe by the way, that go right on their way, saying, 16 Who so is simple, let him come hither, and to him that is destitute of wisedome, shee sayth also, 17 Stollen waters are sweete, and hid bread is pleasant. 18 But he knoweth not, that ye dead are there, and that her ghestes are in the depth of hell.
Wisdom and Stupidity
1 Wisdom has built her house and made seven columns for it. 2 She has had an animal killed for a feast, mixed spices in the wine, and set the table. 3 She has sent her servant women to call out from the highest place in town: 4 “Come in, ignorant people!” And to the foolish she says, 5 “Come, eat my food and drink the wine that I have mixed. 6 Leave the company of ignorant people, and live. Follow the way of knowledge.”
7 If you correct conceited people, you will only be insulted. If you reprimand evil people, you will only get hurt. 8 Never correct conceited people; they will hate you for it. But if you correct the wise, they will respect you. 9 Anything you say to the wise will make them wiser. Whatever you tell the righteous will add to their knowledge.
10 To be wise you must first have reverence for the Lord. If you know the Holy One, you have understanding. 11 Wisdom will add years to your life. 12 You are the one who will profit if you have wisdom, and if you reject it, you are the one who will suffer.
13 Stupidity is like a loud, ignorant, shameless woman. 14 She sits at the door of her house or on a seat in the highest part of town, 15 and calls out to people passing by, who are minding their own business: 16 “Come in, ignorant people!” To the foolish she says, 17 “Stolen water is sweeter. Stolen bread tastes better.” 18 Her victims do not know that the people die who go to her house, that those who have already entered are now deep in the world of the dead.