1 D oes not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice?

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

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

She stands in the top of high places, by the way at the crossroads of the paths.

3 B eside the gates in front of the town, at the open doors, she cries out,

She cries at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.

4 “ I call to you, O men. 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 child-like ones, learn to use wisdom. O fools, make your mind understand.

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

6 L isten, for I will speak great things. What is right will come from my lips.

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

7 F or my mouth will speak the truth. My lips hate wrong-doing.

For my mouth shall speak truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

8 A ll the words of my mouth are right and good. There is nothing in them that is against the truth.

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

9 T hey are all clear to him who understands, and right to those who find much learning.

They are all plain to him that understands and right to those that have found wisdom.

10 T ake my teaching instead of silver. Take much learning instead of fine gold.

Receive my chastening and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold.

11 F or wisdom is better than stones of great worth. All that you may desire cannot compare with her.

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

12 “ I, wisdom, live with understanding, and I find much learning and careful thinking.

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

13 T he fear of the Lord is to hate what is sinful. I hate pride, self-love, the way of sin, and lies.

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

14 I have teaching and wisdom. I have understanding and power.

With me is counsel, and existence; I am understanding; strength belongs to me.

15 B y me kings rule and rulers make laws that are fair.

By me the kings reign, and the princes decree justice.

16 B y me rulers rule, and all the princes rule on the earth.

By me the princes rule, and all of the governors judge the earth.

17 I love those who love me, and those who look for me with much desire will find me.

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

18 R iches and honor are mine, lasting riches and being right with God.

Riches and honour are with me, yea, durable riches and righteousness.

19 M y fruit is better than gold, even pure gold. What I give is better than fine silver.

My fruit is better than gold, yea, than precious stones, and my revenue than choice silver.

20 I walk in the way that is right with God, in the center of the ways that are fair.

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

21 I give riches to those who love me, and fill their store-houses.

that I may cause my friends to inherit existence and I will fill their treasures.

22 “ The Lord made me at the beginning of His work, before His first works long ago.

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

23 I was set apart long ago, from the beginning, before the earth was.

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

24 I was born when there were no seas, when there were no pools full of water.

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

25 I was born before the mountains and hills were in their places.

Before the mountains were founded, before the hills was I begotten.

26 I t was before He had made the earth or the fields, or the first 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 I was there when He made the heavens, and when He drew a mark around the top of the sea.

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

28 I was there when He put the skies above, and when He put the wells of the waters in their place.

when he established the clouds above, when he strengthened the fountains of the deep,

29 I was there when He marked out the places for the sea, so that the waters would not go farther than what He said. I was there when He marked out the ground for the earth.

when 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 beside Him as the leading workman. I was His joy every day. I was always happy when I was near Him.

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

31 I was happy in the world, His earth, and found joy in the sons of men.

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

32 “ So now, O sons, listen to me, for happy are they who keep my ways.

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

33 H ear my teaching and be wise. Do not turn away from it.

Hearken unto chastening, and be wise; refuse it not.

34 H appy is the man who listens to me, watching every day at my gates, waiting beside my doors.

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

35 F or he who finds me finds life, and gets favor from the Lord.

For whosoever finds me shall find life and shall obtain the will of the LORD.

36 B ut he who misses me hurts himself. All those who hate me love death.”

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