1Does not wisdom cry out, and understanding put forth 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 coming in at the doors, she cries aloud: 4To you, O men, I call. And my voice is to the sons of men. 5O ye simple, understand prudence, and, ye fools, be of an understanding heart. 6Hear, for I will speak excellent things. And the opening of my lips shall be right things. 7For my mouth shall utter truth. And 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, and right to those who find knowledge. 10Receive my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold. 11For wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. 12I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling, and find out knowledge [and] discretion. 13The fear of LORD is to hate evil. Pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the perverse mouth, do I hate. 14Counsel is mine, and sound knowledge. I am understanding, I have might. 15By me kings reign, and rulers decree justice. 16By me rulers rule, and ranking men, [even] all the judges of the earth. 17I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently shall find me. 18Riches and honor are with me, durable wealth and righteousness. 19My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold, and my revenue than choice silver. 20I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice, 21that I may cause those who love me to inherit substance, and that I may fill their treasuries. 22LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. 23I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, before the earth was, 24when there were no depths. I was brought forth when there were no fountains abounding with water, 25before the mountains were settled, before the hills. I was brought forth 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 upon the face of the deep, 28when he made firm the skies above, when the fountains of the deep became strong, 29when he gave to the sea its bound that the waters should not transgress his commandment, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, 30then I was by him, a master workman. And I was daily [his] delight, rejoicing always before him, 31rejoicing in his habitable earth. And my delight was with the sons of men. 32Now therefore, ye sons, hearken to me. For blessed are those who keep my ways. 33Hear instruction, and be wise, and do not refuse it. 34Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. 35For he who finds me finds life, and shall obtain favor of LORD. 36But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death.