| Berean Study Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1Wisdom has built her house; she has carved out her seven pillars. | 1Wisdom has built her house; she has carved its seven columns. |
| 2She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table. | 2She has prepared a great banquet, mixed the wines, and set the table. |
| 3She has sent out her maidservants; she calls out from the heights of the city. | 3She has sent her servants to invite everyone to come. She calls out from the heights overlooking the city. |
| 4“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” she says to him who lacks judgment. | 4“Come in with me,” she urges the simple. To those who lack good judgment, she says, |
| 5“Come, eat my bread and drink the wine I have mixed. | 5“Come, eat my food, and drink the wine I have mixed. |
| 6Leave your folly behind, and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.” | 6Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live; learn to use good judgment.” |
| 7He who corrects a mocker brings shame on himself; he who rebukes a wicked man taints himself. | 7Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return. Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt. |
| 8Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. | 8So don’t bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you. But correct the wise, and they will love you. |
| 9Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning. | 9Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more. |
| 10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. | 10Fear of the LORD is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment. |
| 11For through wisdom your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life. | 11Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life. |
| 12If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage; but if you scoff, you alone will bear the consequences. | 12If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer. Folly Calls for a Hearing |
| 13The woman named Folly is loud; she is naive and knows nothing. | 13The woman named Folly is brash. She is ignorant and doesn’t know it. |
| 14She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the heights of the city, | 14She sits in her doorway on the heights overlooking the city. |
| 15calling out to those who pass by, who make their paths straight. | 15She calls out to men going by who are minding their own business. |
| 16“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” she says to him who lacks judgment. | 16“Come in with me,” she urges the simple. To those who lack good judgment, she says, |
| 17“Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is tasty!” | 17“Stolen water is refreshing; food eaten in secret tastes the best!” |
| 18But they do not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol. | 18But little do they know that the dead are there. Her guests are in the depths of the grave. |
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