1 D oth not wisdom cry? and understanding give forth her voice?

Does not skillful and godly Wisdom cry out, and understanding raise her voice ?

2 O n the top of high places by the way, at the cross-paths she taketh her stand.

On the top of the heights beside the way, where the paths meet, stands Wisdom;

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

At the gates at the entrance of the town, at the coming in at the doors, she cries out:

4 U nto you, men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of man:

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

5 O ye simple, understand prudence; and ye foolish, understand sense.

O you simple and thoughtless ones, understand prudence; 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.

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

7 F or my palate shall meditate truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

For my mouth shall utter truth, and wrongdoing is detestable and loathsome to my lips.

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

All 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 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 in preference to 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 equal to it.

For 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 dwell prudence, and find the knowledge of reflection.

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

13 T he fear of Jehovah is to hate evil; pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth do I hate.

The 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 C ounsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am intelligence; I have strength.

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

15 B y me kings reign, and rulers make just decrees;

By me kings reign and rulers decree justice.

16 b y me princes rule, and nobles, all the judges of the earth.

By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges and governors of the earth.

17 I love those that love me; and they that seek me early shall find me.

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

18 R iches and honour are with me; durable wealth and righteousness.

Riches 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 fine gold, yea, than pure gold; and my revenue than choice silver.

My fruit is better than gold, yes, than refined gold, and my increase than choice silver.

20 I walk in the path of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:

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 that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasuries.

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

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

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

23 I was set up from eternity, from the beginning, before the earth was.

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

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

When 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 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 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 ordained the circle upon the face of the deep;

When 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 established the skies above, when the fountains of the deep became strong;

When He made firm the skies above, when He established the fountains of the deep,

29 w hen he imposed on the sea his decree that the waters should not pass his commandment, when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

When 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 by him nursling, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;

Then 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 the habitable part of his earth, and my delights with the sons of men.

Rejoicing in His inhabited earth and delighting in the sons of men.

32 A nd now, sons, hearken unto me, and blessed are they that keep my ways:

Now 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 refuse it not.

Hear instruction and be wise, and do not refuse or neglect it.

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

Blessed (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 whoso findeth me findeth life, and obtaineth favour of Jehovah;

For whoever finds me finds life and draws forth and obtains favor from the Lord.

36 b ut he that sinneth against me doeth violence to his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

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