King James Version KJV
Good News Translation GNT
1 Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:
1
Wisdom has built her house and made seven columns for it.
2 She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.
2
She has had an animal killed for a feast, mixed spices in the wine, and set the table.
3 She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,
3
She has sent her servant women to call out from the highest place in town:
4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
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"Come in, ignorant people!" And to the foolish she says,
5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
5
"Come, eat my food and drink the wine that I have mixed.
6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
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Leave the company of ignorant people, and live. Follow the way of knowledge."
7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
7
If you correct conceited people, you will only be insulted. If you reprimand evil people, you will only get hurt.
8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
8
Never correct conceited people; they will hate you for it. But if you correct the wise, they will respect you.
9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
9
Anything you say to the wise will make them wiser. Whatever you tell the righteous will add to their knowledge.
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
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To be wise you must first have reverence for the Lord. If you know the Holy One, you have understanding.
11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.
11
Wisdom will add years to your life.
12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.
12
You are the one who will profit if you have wisdom, and if you reject it, you are the one who will suffer.
13 A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.
13
Stupidity is like a loud, ignorant, shameless woman.
14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
14
She sits at the door of her house or on a seat in the highest part of town,
15 To call passengers who go right on their ways:
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and calls out to people passing by, who are minding their own business:
16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
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"Come in, ignorant people!" To the foolish she says,
17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
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"Stolen water is sweeter. Stolen bread tastes better."
18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.
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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.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.