Wisdom’s Banquet

¹ Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars.

² She has slaughtered her slaughtering, mixed her wine, and also set her table.

³ She has sent her servant girls,¹ she calls upon the wings of the high places of town,

1. Or “young maidens”

⁴ “Whoever is simple, let him turn here.” As for the one who lacks ⌞sense⌟,¹ she says to him,

1. Literally “heart”

⁵ “Come, eat with my bread; drink with the wine I have mixed.

⁶ Lay aside simplicity and live; walk in the way of understanding.”

⁷ He who corrects a scoffer gains abuse for himself, and he who rebukes the wicked ⌞gets hurt⌟.¹

1. Literally “abuse him”

⁸ Do not rebuke a scoffer, lest he hate you; rebuke the wise and he will love you.

Foolishness’ Banquet

⁹ Give to a wise one and he will become more wise; ⌞teach⌟¹ a righteous one and he will increase learning.

1. Literally “make known to”

¹⁰ The start of wisdom is fear of Yahweh, and knowledge of the Holy One,¹ insight.

1. Or “holy ones”

¹¹ For by me your days shall increase, and years of life shall multiply for you.

¹² If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, and if you scoff, alone you shall bear it.

¹³ A woman of foolishness is loud, simple, and does not know ⌞it⌟.¹

1. Literally “what”

¹⁴ She sits at the door of her house, upon a throne at the high places of town,

¹⁵ in order to call to those who pass by the road, those who go straight on their way:

¹⁶ “Whoever is simple, may he turn here!” As for he who lacks ⌞sense⌟,¹ she says to him,

1. Literally “heart”

¹⁷ “Stolen waters are sweet, and bread of secrecy is pleasant.”

¹⁸ But he does not know that the dead¹ are there, in the depths of Sheol² are her guests.

1. Or “Rephaim”
2. A term for the place where the dead reside, i.e., the Underworld