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

Does not wisdom call, 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.

On top of the heights beside the way, Where the paths meet, she takes her stand;

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

Beside the gates, at the opening to the city, At the entrance of the doors, she cries out:

4 “ To 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 you simple ones, understand prudence, And you fools, be of an understanding heart.

“O naive ones, understand prudence; And, O fools, understand wisdom.

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

“Listen, for I will speak noble things; And the opening of my lips will reveal right things.

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

“For my mouth will utter truth; And 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.

“All the utterances of my mouth are in righteousness; There is nothing crooked or perverted in them.

9 T hey are all plain to him who understands, And right to those who find knowledge.

“They are all straightforward 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;

“Take my instruction and not silver, And knowledge rather than choicest gold.

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

“For wisdom is better than jewels; And all desirable things cannot compare with her.

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

“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And I find 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.

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

14 C ounsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength.

“ Counsel is mine and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine.

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

“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, All who judge rightly.

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

“I love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me.

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

“ Riches and honor are with me, Enduring wealth and righteousness.

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

“My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold, And my yield better than choicest silver.

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

“I walk in 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.

To endow those who love me with wealth, That I may fill their treasuries.

22 “ The Lord possessed me at 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 have been established from everlasting, From the beginning, before there was ever an earth.

“From everlasting I was established, From the beginning, from the earliest times of the 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 springs abounding with water.

25 B efore the mountains were settled, Before the hills, I was 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 or the fields, Or the primal dust of the world.

While He had not yet made the earth and the fields, Nor the first 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,

“When He established the heavens, I was there, When He inscribed a circle on 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 springs of the deep became fixed,

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,

When He set for the sea its boundary So that the water 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,

Then I was beside Him, as a master workman; 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.

Rejoicing in the world, His earth, And having my delight in the sons of men.

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

“Now therefore, O sons, listen to me, For blessed are they who keep my ways.

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

“ Heed instruction and be wise, And do not neglect it.

34 B lessed is the man who listens to 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 my doorposts.

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

“For he who 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.”

“But he who sins against me injures himself; All those who hate me love death.”