New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn her seven pillars.
1
Wisdom has made her house, putting up her seven pillars.
2 She has slaughtered her animals, she has mixed her wine, she has also 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 servant-girls, she calls from the highest places in the town,
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She has sent out her women-servants; her voice goes out to the highest places of the town, saying,
4 "You that are simple, turn in here!" To those without sense 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, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed.
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Come, take of my bread, and of my wine which is mixed.
6 Lay aside immaturity, and live, and walk in the way of insight."
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Give up the simple ones and have life, and go in the way of knowledge.
7 Whoever corrects a scoffer wins abuse; whoever rebukes the wicked gets hurt.
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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 A scoffer who is rebuked will only hate you; the wise, when rebuked, 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 instruction to the wise, and they will become wiser still; teach the righteous and they will gain in learning.
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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 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 start of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One gives a wise mind
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 increased, and the years of your life will be long.
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 your heart is full of pride, you only will have the pain of it.
13 The foolish woman is loud; she is ignorant and knows nothing.
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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, on a seat at the high places of the town,
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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, who are going straight on their way,
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Crying out to those who go by, going straight on their way, she says:
16 "You who are simple, turn in here!" And to those without sense 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, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant."
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Drink taken without right is sweet, and food in secret is pleasing.
18 But they do not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
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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.
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.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.