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

Does not wisdom cry out, And understanding lift up her voice?

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

She takes her stand on the top of the high hill, Beside the way, where the paths meet.

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

She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city, At the entrance of the doors:

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

“To 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.

O you simple ones, understand prudence, And you 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.

Listen, for I will speak of excellent things, And from the opening of my lips will come right things;

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

For my mouth will speak truth; 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.

All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; Nothing crooked or perverse is in them.

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

They are all plain to him who understands, And right to those who find knowledge.

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

Receive 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.

For wisdom is better than rubies, And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.

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

“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, 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.

The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.

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

Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength.

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

By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice.

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

By me princes rule, and nobles, All the judges of the earth.

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

I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me.

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

Riches and honor are with me, Enduring riches and righteousness.

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

My fruit is better than gold, yes, 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;

I traverse 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.

That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, That I may fill their treasuries.

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

“The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old.

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

I have been established from everlasting, From the beginning, before there was ever an earth.

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

When 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;

Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills, I was 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.

While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields, Or the primal 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,

When He prepared the heavens, I was there, When He drew a circle on the face of the deep,

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

When He established the clouds above, When He strengthened the fountains of the deep,

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;

When He assigned to the sea its limit, So that the waters would not transgress His command, 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,

Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; 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.

Rejoicing in His inhabited world, 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.

“Now therefore, listen to me, my children, For blessed are those who keep my ways.

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

Hear instruction and be wise, And do not disdain it.

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

Blessed is the man who listens to 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.

For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the Lord;

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

But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; All those who hate me love death.”