Proverbs

1Doesn’t wisdom cry out?Doesn’t understanding raise her voice?

2On the top of high places by the way,where the paths meet, she stands.

3Beside the gates, at the entry of the city,at the entry doors, she cries aloud:

4“I call to you men!I send my voice to the sons of mankind.

5You simple, understand prudence!You fools, be of an understanding heart!

6Hear, for I will speak excellent things.The opening of my lips is for right things.

7For my mouth speaks truth.Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

8All the words of my mouth are in righteousness.There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.

9They are all plain to him who understands,right to those who find knowledge.

10Receive my instruction rather than silver,knowledge rather than choice gold.

11For wisdom is better than rubies.All the things that may be desired can’t be compared to it.

12“I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling.Find out knowledge and discretion.

13The fear of the LORD is to hate evil.I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.

14Counsel and sound knowledge are mine.I have understanding and power.

15By me kings reign,and princes decree justice.

16By me princes rule,nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth.

17I love those who love me.Those who seek me diligently will find me.

18With me are riches, honor,enduring wealth, and prosperity.

19My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold,my yield than choice silver.

20I walk in the way of righteousness,in the middle of the paths of justice,

21that I may give wealth to those who love me.I fill their treasuries.

22“The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his work,before his deeds of old.

23I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning,before the earth existed.

24When there were no depths, I was born,when there were no springs abounding with water.

25Before the mountains were settled in place,before the hills, I was born;

26while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields,nor the beginning of the dust of the world.

27When he established the heavens, I was there.When he set a circle on the surface of the deep,

28when he established the clouds above,when the springs of the deep became strong,

29when he gave to the sea its boundary,that the waters should not violate his commandment, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,

30then I was the craftsman by his side.I was a delight day by day, always rejoicing before him,

31rejoicing in his whole world.My delight was with the sons of men.

32“Now therefore, my sons, listen to me,for blessed are those who keep my ways.

33Hear instruction, and be wise.Don’t refuse it.

34Blessed is the man who hears me,watching daily at my gates, waiting at my door posts.

35For whoever finds me finds life,and will obtain favor from the LORD.

36But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul.All those who hate me love death.”

1Doth not wisdom cry aloud, and prudence put forth her voice?

2Standing in the top of the highest places by the way, in the midst of the paths.

3Beside the gates of the city, in the very doors she speaketh, saying:

4O ye men, to you I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.

5O little ones, understand subtilty, and ye unwise, take notice.

6Hear, for I will speak of great things: and my lips shall be opened to preach right things.

7My mouth shall meditate truth, and my lips shall hate wickedness.

8All my words are just, there is nothing wicked nor perverse in them.

9They are right to them that understand, and just to them that find knowledge.

10Receive my instruction, and not money: choose knowledge rather than gold.

11For wisdom is better than all the most precious things: and whatsoever may be desired cannot be compared to it.

12I wisdom dwell in counsel, and am present in learned thoughts.

13The fear of the Lord hateth evil: I hate arrogance, and pride, and every wicked way, and a mouth with a double tongue.

14Counsel and equity is mine, prudence is mine, strength is mine.

15By me kings reign, and lawgivers decree just things,

16By me princes rule, and the mighty decree justice.

17I love them that love me: and they that in the morning early watch for me, shall find me.

18With me are riches and glory, glorious riches and justice.

19For my fruit is better than gold and the precious stone, and my blossoms than choice silver.

20I walk in the way of justice, in the midst of the paths of judgment,

21That I may enrich them that love me, and may fill their treasures.

22The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his ways, before he made any thing from the beginning.

23I was set up from eternity, and of old before the earth was made.

24The depths were not as yet, and I was already conceived. neither had the fountains of waters as yet sprung out:

25The mountains with their huge bulk had not as yet been established: before the hills I was brought forth:

26He had not yet made the earth, nor the rivers, nor the poles of the world.

27When he prepared the heavens, I was present: when with a certain law and compass he enclosed the depths:

28When he established the sky above, and poised the fountains of waters:

29When he compassed the sea with its bounds, and set a law to the waters that they should not pass their limits: when be balanced the foundations of the earth;

30I was with him forming all things: and was delighted every day, playing before him at all times;

31Playing in the world: and my delights were to be with the children of men.

32Now therefore, ye children, hear me: Blessed are they that keep my ways.

33Hear instruction and be wise, and refuse it not.

34Blessed is the man that heareth me, and that watcheth daily at my gates, and waiteth at the posts of my doors.

35He that shall find me, shall find life, and shall have salvation from the Lord:

36But he that shall sin against me, shall hurt his own soul. All that hate me love death.