English Standard Version ESV
New Revised Standard NRS
1 Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars.
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Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn her seven pillars.
2 She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table.
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She has slaughtered her animals, she has mixed her wine, she has also set her table.
3 She has sent out her young women to call from the highest places in the town,
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She has sent out her servant-girls, she calls from the highest places in the town,
4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here! ” To him who lacks sense she says,
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"You that are simple, turn in here!" To those without sense she says,
5 “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed.
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"Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed.
6 Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight. ”
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Lay aside immaturity, and live, and walk in the way of insight."
7 Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.
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Whoever corrects a scoffer wins abuse; whoever rebukes the wicked gets hurt.
8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
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A scoffer who is rebuked will only hate you; the wise, when rebuked, will love you.
9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
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Give instruction to the wise, and they will become wiser still; teach the righteous and they will gain in learning.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
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The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.
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For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it.
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If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it.
13 The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive and knows nothing.
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The foolish woman is loud; she is ignorant and knows nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house; she takes a seat on the highest places of the town,
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She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the high places of the town,
15 calling to those who pass by, who are going straight on their way,
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calling to those who pass by, who are going straight on their way,
16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here! ”And to him who lacks sense she says,
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"You who are simple, turn in here!" And to those without sense she says,
17 “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. ”
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"Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant."
18 But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
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But they do not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.