The Excellence of Wisdom
1 Does notwisdom 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 voiceisto 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 ofexcellent things,
And from the opening of my lipswillcomeright things;
7 For my mouth will speak truth;
Wickednessisan abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my moutharewith righteousness;
Nothing crooked or perverseisin them.
9 Theyareall 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 wisdomisbetter than rubies,
And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.
12 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
And find out knowledgeanddiscretion.
13 The fear of theLordisto hate evil;
# Pride and arrogance and the evil way
# Andthe perverse mouth I hate.
14 Counselismine, and sound wisdom;
# Iamunderstanding,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,
# Andthose who seek me diligently will find me.
18 Riches and honorarewith me,
Enduring riches and righteousness.
19 My fruitisbetter 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 “TheLordpossessed 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 Whentherewereno depths I was brought forth,
Whentherewereno 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, Iwasthere,
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,
# WhenHe marked out the foundations of the earth,
30 Then I was beside Himasa master craftsman;
# And I was dailyHisdelight,
Rejoicing always before Him,
31 Rejoicing in His inhabited world,
# Andmy delightwaswith the sons of men.
32 “Now therefore, listen to me,mychildren,
# Forblessedarethosewhokeep my ways.
33 Hear instruction and be wise,
And do not disdainit.
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,
# Andobtains favor from theLord;
36 But he who sins against mewrongs his own soul;
All those who hate me love death.”