Good News Translation GNT
World English Bible WEB
1 Wisdom has built her house and made seven columns for it.
1
Wisdom has built her house. She has carved out her seven pillars.
2 She has had an animal killed for a feast, mixed spices in the wine, and set the table.
2
She has prepared her meat. She has mixed her wine. She has also set her table.
3 She has sent her servant women to call out from the highest place in town:
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She has sent out her maidens. She cries from the highest places of the city:
4 "Come in, ignorant people!" And to the foolish she says,
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"Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!" As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
5 "Come, eat my food and drink the wine that I have mixed.
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"Come, eat some of my bread, Drink some of the wine which I have mixed!
6 Leave the company of ignorant people, and live. Follow the way of knowledge."
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Leave your simple ways, and live. Walk in the way of understanding."
7 If you correct conceited people, you will only be insulted. If you reprimand evil people, you will only get hurt.
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He who corrects a mocker invites insult. He who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.
8 Never correct conceited people; they will hate you for it. But if you correct the wise, they will respect you.
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Don't reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you. Reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
9 Anything you say to the wise will make them wiser. Whatever you tell the righteous will add to their knowledge.
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Instruct a wise man, and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
10 To be wise you must first have reverence for the Lord. If you know the Holy One, you have understanding.
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The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 Wisdom will add years to your life.
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For by me your days will be multiplied. The years of your life will be increased.
12 You are the one who will profit if you have wisdom, and if you reject it, you are the one who will suffer.
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If you are wise, you are wise for yourself. If you mock, you alone will bear it.
13 Stupidity is like a loud, ignorant, shameless woman.
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The foolish woman is loud, Undisciplined, and knows nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house or on a seat in the highest part of town,
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She sits at the door of her house, On a seat in the high places of the city,
15 and calls out to people passing by, who are minding their own business:
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To call to those who pass by, Who go straight on their ways,
16 "Come in, ignorant people!" To the foolish she says,
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"Whoever is simple, let him turn in here." As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
17 "Stolen water is sweeter. Stolen bread tastes better."
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"Stolen water is sweet. Food eaten in secret is pleasant."
18 Her victims do not know that the people die who go to her house, that those who have already entered are now deep in the world of the dead.
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But he doesn't know that the dead are there, That her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.
The World English Bible is in the public domain.