| 1 | Does not wisdom cry out, And understanding lift up her voice? | |
| 2 | She takes her stand on the top of the high hill, Beside the way, where the paths meet. | |
| 3 | She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city, At the entrance of the doors: | |
| 4 | "To you, O men, I call, And my voice is to the sons of men. | |
| 5 | O you simple ones, understand prudence, And you fools, be of an understanding heart. | |
| 6 | Listen, for I will speak of excellent things, And from the opening of my lips will come right things; | |
| 7 | For my mouth will speak truth; Wickedness is an abomination to my lips. | |
| 8 | All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; Nothing crooked or perverse is in them. | |
| 9 | They are all plain to him who understands, And right to those who find knowledge. | |
| 10 | Receive my instruction, and not silver, And knowledge rather than choice gold; | |
| 11 | For wisdom is better than rubies, And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her. | |
| 12 | "I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And find out knowledge and discretion. | |
| 13 | The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate. | |
| 14 | Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength. | |
| 15 | By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice. | |
| 16 | By me princes rule, and nobles, All the judges of the earth. | |
| 17 | I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me. | |
| 18 | Riches and honor are with me, Enduring riches and righteousness. | |
| 19 | My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, And my revenue than choice silver. | |
| 20 | I traverse the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice, | |
| 21 | That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, That I may fill their treasuries. | |
| 22 | "The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old. | |
| 23 | I have been established from everlasting, From the beginning, before there was ever an earth. | |
| 24 | When there were no depths I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water. | |
| 25 | Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills, I was brought forth; | |
| 26 | While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields, Or the primeval dust of the world. | |
| 27 | When He prepared the heavens, I was there, When He drew a circle on the face of the deep, | |
| 28 | When He established the clouds above, When He strengthened the fountains of the deep, | |
| 29 | When He assigned to the sea its limit, So that the waters would not transgress His command, When He marked out the foundations of the earth, | |
| 30 | Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him, | |
| 31 | Rejoicing in His inhabited world, And my delight was with the sons of men. | |
| 32 | "Now therefore, listen to me, my children, For blessed are those who keep my ways. | |
| 33 | Hear instruction and be wise, And do not disdain it. | |
| 34 | Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors. | |
| 35 | For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the LORD; | |
| 36 | But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; All those who hate me love death." | |