Proverbs

¹ Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?

² where the paths meet, she takes her stand;

³ at the entrances, she cries aloud:

⁴ I raise my voice to all mankind.

⁵ you who are foolish, gain understanding.

⁶ I open my lips to speak what is right.

⁷ for my lips detest wickedness.

⁸ none of them is crooked or perverse.

⁹ they are faultless to those who have knowledge.

¹⁰ knowledge rather than choice gold,

¹¹ and nothing you desire can compare with her.

¹² I possess knowledge and discretion.

¹³ I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.

¹⁴ I have understanding and power.

¹⁵ and rulers make laws that are just;

¹⁶ and all nobles who rule on earth.

¹⁷ and those who seek me find me.

¹⁸ enduring wealth and prosperity.

¹⁹ what I yield surpasses choice silver.

²⁰ along the paths of justice,

²¹ and making their treasuries full.

²² before his deeds of old;

²³ from the beginning, before the world began.

²⁴ when there were no springs abounding with water;

²⁵ before the hills, I was given birth,

²⁶ or any of the dust of the world.

²⁷ when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,

²⁸ and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,

²⁹ so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.

³⁰ I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence,

³¹ and delighting in mankind.

³² blessed are those who keep my ways.

³³ do not ignore it.

³⁴ watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.

³⁵ and receives favor from the Lord.

³⁶ all who hate me love death.”