1 WISDOM has built her house, she has set up in it seven pillars;

2 She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mingled her wine; she has also prepared her table.

3 She has sent forth her servants to cry out upon the highest places and say,

4 Whosoever is simple, let him come to me; as for him who lacks understanding, she said to him,

5 Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine which I have mingled.

6 Forsake folly, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

7 Correction for a bad man brings disgrace; the wicked man is rebuked by his own blemish.

8 Reprove not a bad man, lest he hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.

9 Give an opportunity to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

10 The reverence of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the righteous is understanding.

11 For by her your days shall be multiplied, and the years of your life shall be increased.

12 My son, if you are wise, you are wise for yourself and for your friends; but if you are evil-minded, you alone shall bear your evils;

13 He who denies things falsely feeds on winds and pursues fowl of the air; for he has forsaken the way to his vineyard and the paths of his labor, to journey in the wilderness without water; in the places that are trodden he travels thirsty and gains nothing.

14 A foolish woman is enticing; she does not know what shame is; she sits at the door of her home on a high seat,

15 She calls those who pass by, who go right on their ways;

16 She says, He who is simple, let him come to me; and as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,

17 Stolen waters are sweet and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

18 But he does not know that the mighty men perish with her and that her guests are in the depths of Sheol. ( 919)Now rise up, and do not abide in that place; do not cast your eye at her; thus pass by the waters of strangers; cross over a strange river, and turn away from the waters of strangers; you shall not drink of the waters of strangers. For in doing so a multitude of days and years of life shall be added to you.