1Doth not wisdom cry out, and understanding put forth her voice?
2She standeth at the top of high places, by the wayside where the paths meet.
3She 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.
5O ye simple, understand wisdom; and ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
6Hear, for I will speak of excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall be of right things;
7for my mouth shall speak truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.
9They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that 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.
12"I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and disclose knowledge of learned thoughts.
13The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the froward mouth do I hate.
14Counsel is mine and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength.
15By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16By me princes rule and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17I love them that love me, and those that seek me early shall find me.
18Riches and honor are with me, yea, durable riches and righteousness.
19My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold, and my revenue than choice silver.
20I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment,
21that I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, and I will fill their treasuries.
22"The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way, before His works of old.
23I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever 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 was I brought forth,
26while as yet He had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the first parts of dust of the world.
27When He prepared the heavens, I was there; when He set a compass upon the face of the deep,
28when He established the clouds above, when He strengthened the fountains of the deep,
29when He gave to the sea His decree that the waters should not pass His commandment, when He appointed the foundations of the earth"
30then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him, and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him,
31rejoicing 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.
33Hear instruction and be wise, and refuse it not.
34Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain the favor of the LORD.
36But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul; all they that hate me love death."