1 D oth not wisdom call? And understanding give forth her voice?

2 A t the head of high places by the way, Between the paths she hath stood,

3 A t the side of the gates, at the mouth of the city, The entrance of the openings, she crieth aloud,

4 ` Unto you, O men, I call, And my voice unto the sons of men.

5 U nderstand, ye simple ones, prudence, And ye fools, understand the heart,

6 H earken, for noble things I speak, And the opening of my lips uprightness.

7 F or truth doth my mouth utter, And an abomination to my lips wickedness.

8 I n righteousness all the sayings of my mouth, Nothing in them is froward and perverse.

9 A ll of them plain to the intelligent, And upright to those finding knowledge.

10 R eceive my instruction, and not silver, And knowledge rather than choice gold.

11 F or better wisdom than rubies, Yea, all delights are not comparable with it.

12 I , wisdom, have dwelt with prudence, And a knowledge of devices I find out.

13 T he fear of Jehovah to hate evil; Pride, and arrogance, and an evil way, And a froward mouth, I have hated.

14 M ine counsel and substance, I understanding, I have might.

15 B y me kings reign, and princes decree righteousness,

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

17 I love those loving me, And those seeking me earnestly do find me.

18 W ealth and honour with me, Lasting substance and righteousness.

19 B etter my fruit than gold, even fine gold, And mine increase than choice silver.

20 I n a path of righteousness I cause to walk, In midst of paths of judgment,

21 T o cause my lovers to inherit substance, Yea, their treasures I fill.

22 J ehovah possessed me -- the beginning of His way, Before His works since then.

23 F rom the age I was anointed, from the first, From former states of the earth.

24 I n there being no depths, I was brought forth, In there being no fountains heavy waters,

25 B efore mountains were sunk, Before heights, I was brought forth.

26 W hile He had not made the earth, and out-places, And the top of the dusts of the world.

27 I n His preparing the heavens I there, In His decreeing a circle on the face of the deep,

28 I n His strengthening clouds above, In His making strong fountains of the deep,

29 I n His setting for the sea its limit, And the waters transgress not His command, In His decreeing the foundations of earth,

30 T hen I am near Him, a workman, And I am a delight -- day by day. Rejoicing before Him at all times,

31 R ejoicing in the habitable part of His earth, And my delights with the sons of men.

32 A nd now, ye sons, hearken to me, Yea, happy are they who keep my ways.

33 H ear instruction, and be wise, and slight not.

34 O the happiness of the man hearkening to me, To watch at my doors day by day, To watch at the door-posts of my entrance.

35 F or whoso is finding me, hath found life, And bringeth out good-will from Jehovah.

36 A nd whoso is missing me, is wronging his soul, All hating me have loved death!