The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 Wisdom has built herself a house; she has carved her seven pillars.
1
Wisdom has made her house, putting up her seven pillars.
2 She has prepared her food, spiced her wine, and she has set her table.
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She has put her fat beasts to death; her wine is mixed, her table is ready.
3 She has sent out her young girls [with invitations]; she calls from the heights of the city,
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She has sent out her women-servants; her voice goes out to the highest places of the town, saying,
4 "Whoever is unsure of himself, turn in here!"To someone weak-willed she says,
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Whoever is simple, let him come in here; and to him who has no sense, she says:
5 "Come and eat my food! Drink the wine I have mixed!
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Come, take of my bread, and of my wine which is mixed.
6 Don't stay unsure of yourself, but live! Walk in the way of understanding!"
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Give up the simple ones and have life, and go in the way of knowledge.
7 "He who corrects a scoffer only gets insulted; reproving a wicked man becomes his blemish.
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He who gives teaching to a man of pride gets shame for himself; he who says sharp words to a sinner gets a bad name.
8 If you reprove a scoffer, he will hate you; if you reprove a wise man, he will love you.
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Do not say sharp words to a man of pride, or he will have hate for you; make them clear to a wise man, and you will be dear to him.
9 Give to a wise man, and he grows still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will learn still more.
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Give teaching to a wise man, and he will become wiser; give training to an upright man, and his learning will be increased.
10 The fear of ADONAI is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of holy ones is understanding.
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The fear of the Lord is the start of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One gives a wise mind
11 For with me, your days will be increased; years will be added to your life.
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For by me your days will be increased, and the years of your life will be long.
12 If you are wise, your wisdom helps you; but if you scoff, you bear the consequences alone."
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If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if your heart is full of pride, you only will have the pain of it.
13 The foolish woman is coarse; she doesn't think, and she doesn't know a thing.
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The foolish woman is full of noise; she has no sense at all.
14 She sits at the door of her house or on a seat at the heights of the city,
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Seated at the door of her house, in the high places of the town,
15 calling to those who pass by, to those going straight along their ways,
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Crying out to those who go by, going straight on their way, she says:
16 "Whoever is unsure of himself, turn in here!"To someone weak-willed she says,
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Whoever is simple, let him come in here: and to him who is without sense, she says:
17 "Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is pleasant."
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Drink taken without right is sweet, and food in secret is pleasing.
18 But he doesn't realize that the dead are there, and that those who accept her invitation are in the depths of Sh'ol.
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But he does not see that the dead are there, that her guests are in the deep places of the underworld.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.