New Living Translation NLT
The Message Bible MSG
1 Wisdom has built her house; she has carved its seven columns.
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Lady Wisdom has built and furnished her home; it's supported by seven hewn timbers.
2 She has prepared a great banquet, mixed the wines, and set the table.
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The banquet meal is ready to be served: lamb roasted, wine poured out, table set with silver and flowers.
3 She has sent her servants to invite everyone to come. She calls out from the heights overlooking the city.
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Having dismissed her serving maids, Lady Wisdom goes to town, stands in a prominent place, and invites everyone within sound of her voice:
4 “Come in with me,” she urges the simple. To those who lack good judgment, she says,
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"Are you confused about life, don't know what's going on? Come with me, oh come, have dinner with me!
5 “Come, eat my food, and drink the wine I have mixed.
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I've prepared a wonderful spread - fresh-baked bread, roast lamb, carefully selected wines.
6 Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live; learn to use good judgment.”
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Leave your impoverished confusion and live! Walk up the street to a life with meaning."
7 Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return. Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt.
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If you reason with an arrogant cynic, you'll get slapped in the face; confront bad behavior and get a kick in the shins.
8 So don’t bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you. But correct the wise, and they will love you.
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So don't waste your time on a scoffer; all you'll get for your pains is abuse. But if you correct those who care about life, that's different - they'll love you for it!
9 Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more.
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Save your breath for the wise - they'll be wiser for it; tell good people what you know - they'll profit from it.
10 Fear of the LORD is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.
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Skilled living gets its start in the Fear-of-God, insight into life from knowing a Holy God.
11 Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life.
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It's through me, Lady Wisdom, that your life deepens, and the years of your life ripen.
12 If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.
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Live wisely and wisdom will permeate your life; mock life and life will mock you. Madame Whore Calls Out, Too
13 The woman named Folly is brash. She is ignorant and doesn’t know it.
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Then there's this other woman, Madame Whore - brazen, empty-headed, frivolous.
14 She sits in her doorway on the heights overlooking the city.
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She sits on the front porch of her house on Main Street,
15 She calls out to men going by who are minding their own business.
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And as people walk by minding their own business, calls out,
16 “Come in with me,” she urges the simple. To those who lack good judgment, she says,
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"Are you confused about life, don't know what's going on?
17 “Stolen water is refreshing; food eaten in secret tastes the best!”
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Steal off with me, I'll show you a good time! No one will ever know - I'll give you the time of your life."
18 But little do they know that the dead are there. Her guests are in the depths of the grave.
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But they don't know about all the skeletons in her closet, that all her guests end up in hell.