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

Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice?

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

She takes her stand on the top of the hill beside the way, where the paths meet.

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

Beside the gates in front of the town, at the open doors, she cries out,

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

“I call to you, O men. My voice is to the sons of men.

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

O child-like ones, learn to use wisdom. O fools, make your mind understand.

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

Listen, for I will speak great things. What is right will come from my lips.

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

For my mouth will speak the truth. My lips hate wrong-doing.

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 right and good. There is nothing in them that is against the truth.

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

They are all clear to him who understands, and right to those who find much learning.

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

Take my teaching instead of silver. Take much learning instead of fine 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 stones of great worth. All that you may desire cannot compare with her.

12 “ I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling. Find out knowledge and discretion.

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

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 what is sinful. I hate pride, self-love, the way of sin, and lies.

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

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

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

By me kings rule and rulers make laws that are fair.

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

By me rulers rule, and all the princes rule on the earth.

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

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

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

Riches and honor are mine, lasting riches and being right with God.

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

My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold. What I give is better than fine silver.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I was set apart long ago, 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 born when there were no seas, when there were no pools full of water.

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

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

26 w hile as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.

It was before He had made the earth or the fields, or the first 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,

I was there when He made the heavens, and when He drew a mark around the top of the sea.

28 w hen he established the clouds above, when the springs of the deep became strong,

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

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;

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.

30 t hen I was the craftsman by his side. I was a delight day by day, always rejoicing before him,

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hear my teaching and be wise. Do not turn away from it.

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

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

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

For he who finds me finds life, and gets 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 misses me hurts himself. All those who hate me love death.”