| 1 | Doesn’t wisdom cry out? Doesn’t understanding raise her voice? |
| 2 | On the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she stands. |
| 3 | Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entry doors, she cries aloud: |
| 4 | “To you men, I call! I send my voice to the sons of mankind. |
| 5 | You simple, understand prudence. You fools, be of an understanding heart. |
| 6 | Hear, for I will speak excellent things. The opening of my lips is for right things. |
| 7 | For my mouth speaks truth. Wickedness is an abomination to my lips. |
| 8 | All the words of my mouth are in righteousness. There is nothing crooked or perverse in them. |
| 9 | They are all plain to him who understands, right to those who find knowledge. |
| 10 | Receive my instruction rather than silver; knowledge rather than choice gold. |
| 11 | For wisdom is better than rubies. All the things that may be desired can’t be compared to it. |
| 12 | “I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling. Find out knowledge and discretion. |
| 13 | The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth. |
| 14 | Counsel and sound knowledge are mine. I have understanding and power. |
| 15 | By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. |
| 16 | By me princes rule; nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth. |
| 17 | I love those who love me. Those who seek me diligently will find me. |
| 18 | With me are riches, honor, enduring wealth, and prosperity. |
| 19 | My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold; my yield than choice silver. |
| 20 | I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice; |
| 21 | That I may give wealth to those who love me. I fill their treasuries. |
| 22 | “Yahweh possessed me in the beginning of his work, before his deeds of old. |
| 23 | I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, before the earth existed. |
| 24 | When there were no depths, I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. |
| 25 | Before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was brought forth; |
| 26 | while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world. |
| 27 | When he established the heavens, I was there; when he set a circle on the surface of the deep, |
| 28 | when he established the clouds above, when the springs of the deep became strong, |
| 29 | when he gave to the sea its boundary, that the waters should not violate his commandment, when he marked out the foundations of the earth; |
| 30 | then I was the craftsman by his side. I was a delight day by day, always rejoicing before him, |
| 31 | Rejoicing in his whole world. My delight was with the sons of men. |
| 32 | “Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways. |
| 33 | Hear instruction, and be wise. Don’t refuse it. |
| 34 | Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my door posts. |
| 35 | For whoever finds me, finds life, and will obtain favor from Yahweh. |
| 36 | But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death.” |
