1Wisdom hath builded her house,

She hath hewn out her seven pillars;

2She hath prepared her meat, she hath mingled her wine;

She hath also furnished her table.

3She hath sent forth her maidens, she calleth,

Upon the highest places of the city:

4‘Whoso is thoughtless, let him turn in hither’;

As for him that lacketh understanding, she saith to him:

5‘Come, eat of my bread,

And drink of the wine which I have mingled.

6Forsake all thoughtlessness, and live;

And walk in the way of understanding.

7He that correcteth a scorner getteth to himself shame,

And he that reproveth a wicked man, it becometh unto him a blot.

8Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee;

Reprove a wise man, and he will love thee.

9Give to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser;

Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

10The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

And the knowledge of the All-holy is understanding.

11For by me thy days shall be multiplied,

And the years of thy life shall be increased.

12If thou art wise, thou art wise for thyself;

And if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.’

13The woman Folly is riotous;

She is thoughtless, and knoweth nothing.

14And she sitteth at the door of her house,

On a seat in the high places of the city,

15To call to them that pass by,

Who go right on their ways:

16‘Whoso is thoughtless, let him turn in hither’;

And as for him that lacketh understanding, she saith to him:

17‘Stolen waters are sweet,

And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.’

18But he knoweth not that the shades are there;

That her guests are in the depths of the nether-world.