1Doth not wisdom cry , And understanding put forth her voice ? 2On the top of high places by the way , Where the paths meet, she standeth ; 3Beside the gates , at the entry of the city , At the coming in at the doors , she crieth aloud : 4Unto 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 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 unto it .
The Value of Wisdom
12I wisdom have made prudence my dwelling , And find out knowledge and discretion . 13The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil : Pride , and arrogancy , 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 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 diligently shall find me . 18Riches and honor are with me; Yea , 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 that love me to inherit substance , And that I may fill their treasuries.
The Blessings of Wisdom
22Jehovah 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 was I 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 , as 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 .
The Consequences of Rejecting Wisdom
32Now therefore , my sons , hearken unto me ; 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 favor of Jehovah . 36But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul : All they that hate me love death .