1 Wisdom has built a house for herself, and set up seven pillars. 2 She has killed her beasts; she has mingled her wine in a bowl, and prepared her table. 3 She has sent forth her servants, calling with a loud proclamation to the feast, saying, 4 Whoso is foolish, let him turn aside to me: and to them that want understanding she says, 5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink wine which I have mingled for you.
6 Leave folly, that ye may reign for ever; and seek 1wisdom, and improve understanding by knowledge. 7 He that reproves evil men shall get dishonour to himself; and he that rebukes an ungodly man shall disgrace himself. 8 Rebuke not evil men, lest they should hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. 9 Give an opportunity to a wise man, and he will be wiser: instruct a just man, and he will receive more instruction. 10 The fear of the Lord is the 2beginning of wisdom, and the counsel of saints is understanding: 10a for to know the law is the character of a sound mind. 11 For in this way thou shalt live long, and years of thy life shall be added to thee.
12 Son, if thou be wise for thyself, thou shalt also be wise for thy neighbours; and if thou shouldest prove wicked, thou alone wilt bear the evil. 12a 3He that stays himself upon falsehoods, attempts to rule the winds, and the same will pursue birds in their flight: 12b for he has forsaken the ways of his own vineyard, and he has caused the axles of his own husbandry to go astray; 12c and he goes through a dry desert, and a land appointed to drought, and he gathers barrenness with his hands.
13 A foolish and bold woman, who knows not modesty, comes to want a morsel. 14 She sits at the doors of her house, on a seat openly in the streets, 15 calling to passers by, and to those that are going right on their ways; 16 saying, Whoso is most senseless of you, let him turn aside to me; and I exhort those that want prudence, saying, 17 Take and enjoy secret bread, and the sweet water of theft.
18 But he knows that mighty men die by her, and he falls in with a snare of hell. 18a But hasten away, delay not in the place, neither fix thine eye upon her: 18b for thus shalt thou go through strange water; 18c but do thou abstain from strange water, and drink not of a strange fountain, 18d that thou mayest live long, and years of life may be added to thee.
About this text. This is Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 translation of the Septuagint — the Greek Old Testament the Orthodox Church reads, rather than the Hebrew text behind most English Bibles. It is in the public domain. Words in italics are ones Brenton supplied that the Greek does not have; he marked them so that a reader could tell the difference, and they are kept that way here. The numbered notes are his own. Its English is Victorian, and does not match the modern English of the New Testament pages on this site.