| 1 | Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? |
| 2 | She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths. |
| 3 | She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors. |
| 4 | Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man. |
| 5 | O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. |
| 6 | Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. |
| 7 | For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. |
| 8 | All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them. |
| 9 | They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that 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 that may be desired are not to be compared to it. |
| 12 | I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions. |
| 13 | The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. |
| 14 | Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength. |
| 15 | By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. |
| 16 | By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth. |
| 17 | I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. |
| 18 | Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. |
| 19 | My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. |
| 20 | I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: |
| 21 | That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures. |
| 22 | The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. |
| 23 | I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. |
| 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 was I brought forth: |
| 26 | While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. |
| 27 | When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: |
| 28 | When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: |
| 29 | When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: |
| 30 | Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; |
| 31 | Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. |
| 32 | Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. |
| 33 | Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. |
| 34 | Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. |
| 35 | For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. |
| 36 | But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death. |
