1 D oesn’t wisdom cry out? Doesn’t understanding raise her voice?

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

2 O n the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she stands.

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

3 B eside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entry doors, she cries aloud:

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

4 “ To you men, I call! I send my voice to the sons of mankind.

Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of men.

5 Y ou simple, understand prudence. You fools, be of an understanding heart.

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

6 H ear, for I will speak excellent things. The opening of my lips is for right things.

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

7 F or my mouth speaks truth. Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

For 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 crooked or perverse in them.

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

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

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

10 R eceive my instruction rather than silver; knowledge rather than choice gold.

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

11 F or wisdom is better than rubies. All the things that may be desired can’t be compared to it.

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, have made prudence my dwelling. Find out knowledge and discretion.

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

13 T he fear of Yahweh is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.

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

14 C ounsel and sound knowledge are mine. I have understanding and power.

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

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

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

16 B y me princes rule; nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth.

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

17 I love those who love me. Those who seek me diligently will find me.

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

18 W ith me are riches, honor, enduring wealth, and prosperity.

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

19 M y fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold; my yield than choice silver.

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

20 I walk in the way of righteousness, in the middle of the paths of justice;

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

21 T hat I may give wealth to those who love me. I fill their treasuries.

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

22 “ Yahweh possessed me in the beginning of his work, before his deeds of old.

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

23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, before the earth existed.

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

24 W hen there were no depths, I was born, when there were no springs abounding with water.

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

25 B efore the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was born;

Before 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.

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 established the heavens, I was there; when he set a circle on the surface of the deep,

when 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 the springs of the deep became strong,

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

29 w hen he gave to the sea its boundary, that the waters should not violate his commandment, when he marked out the foundations of 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 t hen I was the craftsman by his side. I was a delight day by day, always rejoicing before him,

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

31 R ejoicing in his whole world. My delight was with the sons of men.

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

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

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

33 H ear instruction, and be wise. Don’t refuse it.

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

34 B lessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my door posts.

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

35 F or whoever finds me, finds life, and will obtain favor from Yahweh.

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

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

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