1 D oes not skillful and godly Wisdom cry out, and understanding raise her voice ?

2 O n the top of the heights beside the way, where the paths meet, stands Wisdom;

3 A t the gates at the entrance of the town, at the coming in at the doors, she cries out:

4 T o you, O men, I call, and my voice is directed to the sons of men.

5 O you simple and thoughtless ones, understand prudence; you fools, be of an understanding heart.

6 H ear, for I will speak excellent and princely things; and the opening of my lips shall be for right things.

7 F or my mouth shall utter truth, and wrongdoing is detestable and loathsome to my lips.

8 A ll the words of my mouth are righteous (upright and in right standing with God); there is nothing contrary to truth or crooked in them.

9 T hey are all plain to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge.

10 R eceive my instruction in preference to silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold,

11 F or skillful and godly Wisdom is better than rubies or pearls, and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

12 I , Wisdom, make prudence my dwelling, and I find out knowledge and discretion.

13 T he reverent fear and worshipful awe of the Lord the hatred of evil; pride, arrogance, the evil way, and perverted and twisted speech I hate.

14 I have counsel and sound knowledge, I have understanding, I have might and power.

15 B y me kings reign and rulers decree justice.

16 B y me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges and governors of the earth.

17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me early and diligently shall find me.

18 R iches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness (uprightness in every area and relation, and right standing with God).

19 M y fruit is better than gold, yes, than refined gold, and my increase than choice silver.

20 I walk in the way of righteousness (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation), in the midst of the paths of justice,

21 T hat I may cause those who love me to inherit riches and that I may fill their treasuries.

22 T he Lord formed and brought me forth at the beginning of His way, before His acts of old.

23 I was inaugurated and ordained from everlasting, from the beginning, before ever the earth existed.

24 W hen there were no deeps, I was brought forth, when there were no fountains laden with water.

25 B efore the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth,

26 W hile as yet He had not made the land or the fields or the first of the dust of the earth.

27 W hen He prepared the heavens, I was there; when He drew a circle upon the face of the deep and stretched out the firmament over it,

28 W hen He made firm the skies above, when He established the fountains of the deep,

29 W hen He gave to the sea its limit and His decree that the waters should not transgress His command, when He appointed the foundations of the earth—

30 T hen I was beside Him as a master and director of the work; and I was daily His delight, rejoicing before Him always,

31 R ejoicing in His inhabited earth and delighting in the sons of men.

32 N ow therefore listen to me, O you sons; for blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are those who keep my ways.

33 H ear instruction and be wise, and do not refuse or neglect it.

34 B lessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

35 F or whoever finds me finds life and draws forth and obtains favor from the Lord.

36 B ut he who misses me or sins against me wrongs and injures himself; all who hate me love and court death.