1 ¶ Doth not wisdom cry, and give her voice to intelligence?

2 S he stands in the top of high places, by the way at the crossroads of the paths.

3 S he cries at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.

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 ye of an understanding heart.

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

7 F or my mouth shall speak truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

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

9 T hey are all plain to him that understands and right to those that have found wisdom.

10 R eceive my chastening and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold.

11 F or wisdom is better than precious stones; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

12 ¶ I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I invent the knowledge of giving counsel.

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

14 W ith me is counsel, and existence; I am understanding; strength belongs to me.

15 B y me the kings reign, and the princes decree justice.

16 B y me the princes rule, and all of the governors judge the earth.

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

18 R iches and honour are with me, yea, durable riches and righteousness.

19 M y fruit is better than gold, yea, than precious stones, and my revenue than choice silver.

20 I shall lead in the way of righteousness in the midst of the paths of judgment,

21 t hat I may cause my friends to inherit existence and I will fill their treasures.

22 ¶ The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

23 I was set up with eternal dominion, from the beginning, before the earth was.

24 I was begotten before the depths, before the existence of the fountains of many waters.

25 B efore the mountains were founded, before the hills was I begotten.

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 composed the heavens, I was there. When he set a compass upon the face of the depth,

28 w hen he established the clouds above, when he strengthened the fountains of the deep,

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

30 I was with him ordering everything; I was his delight every day, being content before him at all times;

31 I am content in the circumference of his earth, and my contentment is with the sons of men.

32 ¶ Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye sons; for blessed are those that keep my ways.

33 H earken unto chastening, and be wise; refuse it not.

34 B lessed is the man that hears me, keeping vigil at my gates, waiting at the threshold of my doors.

35 F or whosoever finds me shall find life and shall obtain the will of the LORD.

36 B ut he that sins against me wrongs his own soul; all those that hate me love death.