The Excellence of Wisdom
1 Does not
awisdom cry out,
And understanding lift up her voice?
2 She takes her stand on the top of the
1 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
1 simple ones, understand prudence,
And you fools, be of an understanding heart.
6 Listen, for I will speak of
aexcellent 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 aFor 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 aThe fear of the
Lord is to hate evil;
bPride and arrogance and the evil way
And
cthe perverse mouth I hate.
14 Counsel
is mine, and sound wisdom;
I
am understanding,
aI have strength.
New King James Version®, Copyright© 1982, Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.