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

Doth not wisdom cry, And understanding put forth her voice?

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

On the top of high places by the way, Where the paths meet, she standeth;

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

Beside 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.

Unto 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.

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

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

Hear, for I will speak 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.

For 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 perverse or twisted in them.

All 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 understands and right to those that have found wisdom.

They are all plain to him that understandeth, And right to them that find knowledge.

10 R eceive my chastening 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 precious stones; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

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

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

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

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

The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil: Pride, and arrogancy, and 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.

Counsel is mine, and sound knowledge: I am understanding; I have might.

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

By me kings reign, And princes decree justice.

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

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

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

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

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

Riches and honor are with me; Yea, durable wealth and righteousness.

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

My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; And my revenue than choice silver.

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

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

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

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

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

Jehovah 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.

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

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

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

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

Before 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,

While 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,

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

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

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

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,

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

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

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

Rejoicing in his habitable earth; And my delight was with the sons of men.

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

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

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

Hear instruction, and be wise, And refuse it not.

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

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

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

For whoso findeth me findeth life, And shall obtain favor of Jehovah.

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

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