Revised Standard Version RSV
Good News Translation GNT
1 Wisdom has built her house, she has set up her seven pillars.
1
Wisdom has built her house and made seven columns for it.
2 She has slaughtered her beasts, she has mixed her wine, she has also set her table.
2
She has had an animal killed for a feast, mixed spices in the wine, and set the table.
3 She has sent out her maids to call from the highest places in the town,
3
She has sent her servant women to call out from the highest place in town:
4 "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!" To him who is without sense she says,
4
"Come in, ignorant people!" And to the foolish she says,
5 "Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed.
5
"Come, eat my food and drink the wine that I have mixed.
6 Leave simpleness, and live, and walk in the way of insight."
6
Leave the company of ignorant people, and live. Follow the way of knowledge."
7 He who corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.
7
If you correct conceited people, you will only be insulted. If you reprimand evil people, you will only get hurt.
8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
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 still wiser; teach a righteous 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 One is insight.
10
To be wise you must first have reverence for the Lord. If you know the Holy One, you have understanding.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.
11
Wisdom will add years to your life.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will 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 noisy; she is wanton and knows no shame.
13
Stupidity is like a loud, ignorant, shameless woman.
14 She sits at the door of her house, she takes a seat on the high places of the town,
14
She sits at the door of her house or on a seat in the highest part of town,
15 calling to those who pass by, who are going straight on their way,
15
and calls out to people passing by, who are minding their own business:
16 "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!" And to him who is without sense she says,
16
"Come in, ignorant people!" To the foolish she says,
17 "Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant."
17
"Stolen water is sweeter. Stolen bread tastes better."
18 But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
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.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the 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.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.