1Visdommen har bygget et stort palads med syv smukt udskårne søjler.2Bordet er dækket til fest med lækker mad og udsøgte vine.3Tjenerne er ude at indbyde folk, de kalder fra byens højdedrag:4„Kom, I enfoldige mennesker, hvis I ønsker at få indsigt.5Kom med til visdommens fest og smag den udsøgte vin.6Opgiv jeres tåbelige tanker, lær at blive vise, så I kan leve ret.”7Det er farligt at irettesætte de hovmodige, at undervise dem giver kun problemer.8Hvis du prøver at belære de hovmodige, vil de hade dig, men de vise sætter pris på en tilrettevisning.9Vejled de vise, så bliver de endnu visere. Undervis de kloge, og deres lærdom forøges.10Ærefrygt for Herren fører til visdom, at kende den hellige Gud giver forstand.11Visdom forlænger ens levetid, der lægges flere år til ens liv.12Når du er vis, er det til dit eget bedste, vrager du visdom, skader du dig selv.13Dårskab er som en trodsig kvinde, ganske tåbelig og uden forstand.14Hun sidder i sin gadedør og venter, mens hun ser ud over byen.15Hun kalder på dem, der går forbi, mens de er fordybet i egne tanker:16„Kom indenfor, I uvidende, hvis I ønsker at lære noget.17Den forbudte frugt smager bedst, det er herligt at have hemmeligheder!”18Den naive ved ikke, at det fører til død, at alle hendes gæster ender i graven.
1Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars. (Matt 16,18; Ef 2,20; 1.Tim 3,15; 1.Pet 2,5; Åb 1,4)2She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table. (Salm 23,5; Ord 23,30; Høj 8,2; Matt 22,4; Luk 14,17)3She has sent out her young women to call from the highest places in the town, (Salm 68,11; Ord 8,1; Ord 8,2; Ord 9,14; Matt 10,27; Matt 22,3; Matt 23,34)4“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” To him who lacks sense she says, (Ord 6,32; Ord 9,16; Matt 11,25; 1.Kor 1,26)5“Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. (Ord 9,2; Høj 5,1; Es 55,1; Joh 6,27; Joh 7,37)6Leave your simple ways,[1] and live, and walk in the way of insight.” (Ord 1,4; Ord 9,11; Ord 23,19)7Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.8Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. (Salm 141,5; Matt 7,6)9Give instruction[2] to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. (Ord 1,5; Matt 13,12)10The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. (Ord 1,7; Ord 30,3)11For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life. (Ord 3,2; Ord 10,27)12If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it. (Job 22,2; 1.Kor 3,8; Gal 6,5)
The Way of Folly
13The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive[3] and knows nothing. (Ord 5,6; Ord 7,7; Ord 7,11)14She sits at the door of her house; she takes a seat on the highest places of the town, (Ord 9,3)15calling to those who pass by, who are going straight on their way, (Ord 9,6)16“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” And to him who lacks sense she says, (Ord 9,4)17“Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” (Ord 5,15; Ord 20,17; Ord 30,20)18But he does not know that the dead[4] are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol. (Ord 7,27)