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 primal 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.”
|