^1. WISDOM has built her house, She has hewn out her seven pillars;

^2. She has [1] prepared her food, she has mixed her wine; She has also set her table;

^3. She has sent out her maidens, she calls From the tops of the heights of the city:

^4. « Whoever is [3] naive, let him turn in here!» To him who lacks [2] understanding she says,

^5. «Come, eat of my food And drink of the wine I have mixed.

^6. « [4] Forsake your folly and live, And proceed in the way of understanding.»

^7. He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself, And he who reproves a wicked man gets [5] insults for himself.

^8. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you, Reprove a wise man and he will love you.

^9. Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.

^10. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

^11. For by me your days will be multiplied, And years of life will be added to you.

^12. If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, And if you scoff, you alone will bear it.

^13. The [7] woman of folly is boisterous, She is [6] naive and knows nothing.

^14. She sits at the doorway of her house, On a seat by the high places of the city,

^15. Calling to those who pass by, Who are making their paths straight:

^16. « Whoever is [9] naive, let him turn in here,» And to him who lacks [8] understanding she says,

^17. «Stolen water is sweet; And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.»

^18. But he does not know that the [10] dead are there, That her guests are in the depths of Sheol.