[1] Does not wisdom call, And understanding lift up her voice?
[2] On top of the heights beside the way, Where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
[3] Beside the gates, at the opening to the city, At the entrance of the doors, she cries out:
[4] “To you, O men, I call, And my voice is to the sons of men.
[5] O naive ones, understand prudence; And, O fools, understand wisdom.
[6] Listen, for I will speak noble things; And the opening of my lips will reveal right things.
[7] For my mouth will utter truth; And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
[8] All the utterances of my mouth are in righteousness; There is nothing crooked or perverted in them.
[9] They are all straightforward to him who understands, And right to those who find knowledge.
[10] Take my instruction and not silver, And knowledge rather than choicest gold.
[11] For wisdom is better than jewels; And all desirable things cannot compare with her.
[12] I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And I find knowledge and discretion.
[13] The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverted mouth, I hate.
[14] Counsel is mine and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine.
[15] By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice.
[16] By me princes rule, and nobles, All who judge rightly.
[17] I love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me.
[18] Riches and honor are with me, Enduring wealth and righteousness.
[19] My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold, And my yield better than choicest silver.
[20] I walk in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice,
[21] To endow those who love me with wealth, That I may fill their treasuries.
[22] The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old.
[23] From everlasting I was established, From the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth.
[24] When there were no depths I was brought forth, When there were no springs abounding with water.
[25] Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills I was brought forth;
[26] While He had not yet made the earth and the fields, Nor the first dust of the world.
[27] When He established the heavens, I was there, When He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,
[28] When He made firm the skies above, When the springs of the deep became fixed,
[29] When He set for the sea its boundary So that the water would not transgress His command, When He marked out the foundations of the earth;
[30] Then I was beside Him, as a master workman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him,
[31] Rejoicing in the world, His earth, And having my delight in the sons of men.
[32] Now therefore, O sons, listen to me, For blessed are they who keep my ways.
[33] Heed instruction and be wise, And do not neglect it.
[34] Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at my doorposts.
[35] For he who finds me finds life And obtains favor from the LORD.
[36] But he who sins against me injures himself; All those who hate me love death.”