1 D oth not wisdom cry, And understanding put forth her voice?

2 O n the top of high places by the way, Where the paths meet, she standeth;

3 B eside the gates, at the entry of the city, At the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud:

4 U nto you, O men, I call; And my voice is to the sons of men.

5 O ye simple, understand prudence; And, ye fools, be of an understanding heart.

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

7 F or my mouth shall utter truth; And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

8 A ll the words of my mouth are in righteousness; There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.

9 T hey are all plain to him that understandeth, And right to them that find knowledge.

10 R eceive my instruction, and not silver; And knowledge rather than choice gold.

11 F or wisdom is better than rubies; And all the things that may be desired are not to be compared unto it.

12 I wisdom have made prudence my dwelling, And find out knowledge and discretion.

13 T he fear of Jehovah is to hate evil: Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, And the perverse mouth, do I hate.

14 C ounsel is mine, and sound knowledge: I am understanding; I have might.

15 B y me kings reign, And princes decree justice.

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

17 I love them that love me; And those that seek me diligently shall find me.

18 R iches and honor are with me; Yea, durable wealth and righteousness.

19 M y fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; And my revenue than choice silver.

20 I walk in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice;

21 T hat I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, And that I may fill their treasuries.

22 J ehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, Before his works of old.

23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, Before the earth was.

24 W hen there were no depths, I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water.

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

26 W hile as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, Nor the beginning of the dust of the world.

27 W hen he established the heavens, I was there: When he set a circle upon the face of the deep,

28 W hen he made firm the skies above, When the fountains of the deep became strong,

29 W hen he gave to the sea its bound, That the waters should not transgress his commandment, When he marked out the foundations of the earth;

30 T hen I was by him, as a master workman; And I was daily his delight, Rejoicing always before him,

31 R ejoicing in his habitable earth; And my delight was with the sons of men.

32 N ow therefore, my sons, hearken unto me; For blessed are they that keep my ways.

33 H ear instruction, and be wise, And refuse it not.

34 B lessed is the man that heareth me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors.

35 F or whoso findeth me findeth life, And shall obtain favor of Jehovah.

36 B ut he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: All they that hate me love death.