Wisdom Raises Her Voice
1Does not Wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? 2At the top of the heights along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand; 3beside the gates, at the mouth of the town, at the entrance of the doors she cries aloud: 4“To you, people, I call, and my voice is to all humanity. 5You simple, learn shrewdness; you fools, gain an understanding heart. 6Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips is what is right. 7For my mouth utters truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 8All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them. 9They are all straightforward to the one who understands, and right to those who find knowledge. 10Take my discipline rather than silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold; 11for wisdom is better than corals, and no delight can compare with her.
What Wisdom Holds
12I, Wisdom, dwell with shrewdness, and I find knowledge and discretion. 13The fear of Yahweh is hating evil. Pride and arrogance, the way of evil and the twisted mouth—these I hate. 14Counsel is mine, and sound judgment; I am understanding; strength is mine. 15By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is righteous; 16by me princes govern, and nobles—all who judge rightly. 17I love those who love me, and those who seek me eagerly find me. 18Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness. 19My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver. 20I walk in the path of righteousness, along the pathways of justice, 21granting wealth to those who love me and filling their treasuries.
Wisdom before the World Began
22Yahweh possessed me at the beginning of his way, before his works of old. 23From everlasting I was set in place, from the first, from the beginnings of the earth. 24When there were no deeps I was brought forth, when there were no springs heavy with water; 25before the mountains were sunk in place, before the hills, I was brought forth; 26when he had not yet made the earth and the fields, or the first dust of the world. 27When he set the heavens in place, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep; 28when he made the clouds firm above; when the springs of the deep grew strong; 29when he set for the sea its limit, so that the waters would not overstep his command; when he marked out the foundations of the earth— 30I was beside him as a master craftsman; I was his delight day after day, playing before him at all times, 31playing in his inhabited world, and my delight was in humanity. 32Now then, sons, listen to me: happy are those who keep my ways. 33Hear discipline and be wise; do not ignore it. 34Happy is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorways; 35for whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from Yahweh, 36but whoever misses me harms himself; all who hate me love death.”
