1 Does not ^awisdom cry out,
And understanding lift up her voice? ‡

2 She takes her stand on the top of the¹ 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 you¹ 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. ‡

15 ^aBy me kings reign,
And rulers decree justice. ‡

16 By me princes rule, and nobles,
All the judges of¹ the earth. ‡

17 ^aI love those who love me,
And ^bthose who seek me diligently will find me. ‡

18 ^aRiches 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 I¹ 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^a Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way,
Before His works of old. ‡

23 ^aI 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 ^aBefore the mountains were settled,
Before the hills, I was brought forth; ‡

26 While as yet He had not made the earth or the¹ fields,
Or the¹ 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 ^aWhen He assigned to the sea its limit,
So that the waters would not transgress His command,
When ^bHe marked out the foundations of the earth, ‡

30 ^aThen I was beside Him as¹ a master craftsman;
^bAnd I was daily His delight,
Rejoicing always before Him, ‡

31 Rejoicing in His inhabited world,
And ^amy delight was with the sons of men. ‡

32 “Now therefore, listen to me, my children,
For ^ablessed are those who keep my ways. ‡

33 Hear instruction and be wise,
And do not disdain it.

34 ^aBlessed 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 ^aobtains favor from the Lord; ‡

36 But he who sins against me ^awrongs his own soul;
All those who hate me love death.” ‡