The Darby Translation DBY
New International Version NIV
1 Wisdom hath built her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars;
1
Wisdom has built her house; she has set up its seven pillars.
2 she hath slaughtered her cattle, she hath mingled her wine, she hath also prepared her table;
2
She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table.
3 she hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the summits of the high places of the city,
3
She has sent out her servants, and she calls from the highest point of the city,
4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither. To him that is void of understanding, she saith,
4
“Let all who are simple come to my house!” To those who have no sense she says,
5 Come, eat ye of my bread, and drink of the wine that I have mingled.
5
“Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed.
6 Forsake follies and live, and go in the way of intelligence.
6
Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.”
7 He that instructeth a scorner getteth to himself shame; and he that reproveth a wicked [man] [getteth] to himself a blot.
7
Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults; whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.
8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee; reprove a wise [man], and he will love thee.
8
Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you.
9 Impart to a wise [man], and he will become yet wiser; teach a righteous [man], and he will increase learning.
9
Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.
10 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the Holy is intelligence.
10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and years of life shall be added to thee.
11
For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.
12 If thou art wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself; and if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.
12
If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.
13 The foolish woman is clamorous; she is stupid, and knoweth nothing.
13
Folly is an unruly woman; she is simple and knows nothing.
14 And she sitteth at the entry of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
14
She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city,
15 to call passers-by who go right on their ways:
15
calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way,
16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither. And to him that is void of understanding she saith,
16
“Let all who are simple come to my house!” To those who have no sense she says,
17 Stolen waters are sweet, and the bread of secrecy is pleasant.
17
“Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!”
18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; [that] her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
18
But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.