1 D oes not wisdom cry out, And understanding lift up her voice?

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

3 S he cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city, At the entrance of the doors:

4 “ To you, O men, I call, And my voice is to the sons of men.

5 O you simple ones, understand prudence, And you fools, be of an understanding heart.

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

7 F or my mouth will speak truth; Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

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

9 T hey 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;

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

12 “ I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And find out knowledge and discretion.

13 T he 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 wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength.

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

16 B y me princes rule, and nobles, All the judges of the earth.

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

18 R iches and honor are with me, Enduring riches and righteousness.

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

20 I traverse the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice,

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

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

23 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.

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

26 W hile as yet He had not made the earth or the fields, Or the primal dust of the world.

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

28 W hen He established the clouds above, When He strengthened the fountains of the deep,

29 W hen 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 beside Him as a master craftsman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him,

31 R ejoicing in His inhabited world, And my delight was with the sons of men.

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

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

34 B lessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors.

35 F or whoever finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the Lord;

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