New Century Version NCV
New International Version NIV
1 Wisdom has built her house; she has made its seven columns.
1
Wisdom has built her house; she has set up its seven pillars.
2 She has prepared her food and wine; she has set her table.
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She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table.
3 She has sent out her servant girls, and she calls out from the highest place in the city.
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She has sent out her servants, and she calls from the highest point of the city,
4 She says to those who are uneducated, "Come in here, you foolish people!
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“Let all who are simple come to my house!” To those who have no sense she says,
5 Come and eat my food and drink the wine I have prepared.
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“Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed.
6 Stop your foolish ways, and you will live; take the road of understanding.
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Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.”
7 "If you correct someone who makes fun of wisdom, you will be insulted. If you correct an evil person, you will get hurt.
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Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults; whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.
8 Do not correct those who make fun of wisdom, or they will hate you. But correct the wise, and they will love you.
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Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you.
9 Teach the wise, and they will become even wiser; teach good people, and they will learn even more.
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Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.
10 "Wisdom begins with respect for the Lord, and understanding begins with knowing the Holy One.
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The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 If you live wisely, you will live a long time; wisdom will add years to your life.
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For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.
12 The wise person is rewarded by wisdom, but whoever makes fun of wisdom will suffer for it."
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If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.
13 Foolishness is like a loud woman; she does not have wisdom or knowledge.
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Folly is an unruly woman; she is simple and knows nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house at the highest place in the city.
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She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city,
15 She calls out to those who are passing by, who are going along, minding their own business.
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calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way,
16 She says to those who are uneducated, "Come in here, you foolish people!
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“Let all who are simple come to my house!” To those who have no sense she says,
17 Stolen water is sweeter, and food eaten in secret tastes better."
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“Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!”
18 But these people don't know that everyone who goes there dies, that her guests end up deep in the grave.
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But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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.