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.
