¹ Doesn’t wisdom cry out?
Doesn’t understanding raise her voice? ² On the top of high places by the way, ³ Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, ⁴ “I call to you men! ⁵ You simple, understand prudence! ⁶ Hear, for I will speak excellent things. ⁷ For my mouth speaks truth. ⁸ All the words of my mouth are in righteousness. ⁹ They are all plain to him who understands, ¹⁰ Receive my instruction rather than silver, ¹¹ For wisdom is better than rubies. ¹² “I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling. ¹³ The fear of the LORD is to hate evil. ¹⁴ Counsel and sound knowledge are mine.
I have understanding and power. ¹⁵ By me kings reign, ¹⁶ By me princes rule, ¹⁷ I love those who love me.
Those who seek me diligently will find me. ¹⁸ With me are riches, honor, ¹⁹ My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold,
my yield than choice silver. ²⁰ I walk in the way of righteousness, ²¹ that I may give wealth to those who love me.
I fill their treasuries. ²² “The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his work, ²³ I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, ²⁴ When there were no depths, I was born,
when there were no springs abounding with water. ²⁵ Before the mountains were settled in place, ²⁶ while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, ²⁷ When he established the heavens, I was there. ²⁸ when he established the clouds above,
when the springs of the deep became strong, ²⁹ when he gave to the sea its boundary, ³⁰ then I was the craftsman by his side. ³¹ rejoicing in his whole world.
My delight was with the sons of men. ³² “Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, ³³ Hear instruction, and be wise.
Don’t refuse it. ³⁴ Blessed is the man who hears me, ³⁵ For whoever finds me finds life, ³⁶ But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul.