1 | Wisdom hath built herself a house, she hath hewn her out seven pillars. |
2 | She hath slain her victims, mingled her wine, and set forth her table. |
3 | She hath sent her maids to invite to the tower, and to the walls of the city: |
4 | Whosoever is a little one, let him come to me. And to the unwise she said: |
5 | Come, eat my bread, and drink the wine which I have mingled for you. |
6 | Forsake childishness, and live, and walk by the ways of prudence. |
7 | He that teacheth a scorner, doth an injury to himself: and he that rebuketh a wicked man, getteth himself a blot. |
8 | Rebuke not a scorner lest he hate thee. Rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. |
9 | Give an occasion to a wise man, and wisdom shall be added to him. Teach a just man, and he shall make haste to receive it. |
10 | The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is prudence. |
11 | For by me shall thy days be multiplied, and years of life shall be added to thee. |
12 | If thou be wise, thou shalt be so to thyself: and if a scorner, thou alone shalt bear the evil. |
13 | A foolish woman and clamorous, and full of allurements, and knowing nothing at all, |
14 | Sat at the door of her house, upon a seat, in a high place of the city, |
15 | To call them that pass by the way, and go on their journey: |
16 | He that is a little one, let him turn to me. And to the fool she said: |
17 | Stolen waters are sweeter, and hid den bread is more pleasant. |
18 | And he did not know that giants are there, and that her guests are in the depths of hell. |