In Praise of Wisdom
1 With great understanding,
Wisdom is calling out
2 as she stands at the crossroads
and on every hill.
3 She stands by the city gate
where everyone enters the city,
and she shouts:
4 “I am calling out
to each one of you!
5 Good sense and sound judgment
can be yours.
6 Listen, because what I say
is worthwhile and right.
7 I always speak the truth
and refuse to tell a lie.
8 Every word I speak is honest,
not one is misleading
or deceptive.
9 “If you have understanding,
you will see that my words
are just what you need.
10 Let instruction and knowledge
mean more to you than silver
or the finest gold.
11 Wisdom is worth much more
than precious jewels
or anything else you desire.”
Wisdom Speaks
12 I am Wisdom —Common Sense
is my closest friend;
I possess knowledge
and sound judgment.
13 If you respect the Lord,
you will hate evil.
I hate pride and conceit
and deceitful lies.
14 I am strong, and I offer
sensible advice
and sound judgment.
15 By my power kings govern,
and rulers make laws
that are fair.
16 Every honest leader rules
with help from me.
17 I love everyone who loves me,
and I will be found by all
who honestly search.
18 I can make you rich and famous,
important and successful.
19 What you receive from me
is more valuable
than even the finest gold
or the purest silver.
20 I always do what is right,
21 and I give great riches
to everyone who loves me.
22 From the beginning,
I was with the Lord.
I was there before he began
23 to create the earth.
At the very first,
the Lord gave life to me.
24 When I was born,
there were no oceans
or springs of water.
25 My birth was before
mountains were formed
or hills were put in place.
26 It happened long before God
had made the earth
or any of its fields
or even the dust.
27 I was there when the Lord
put the heavens in place
and stretched the sky
over the surface of the sea.
28 I was with him when he placed
the clouds in the sky
and created the springs
that fill the ocean.
29 I was there when he set
boundaries for the sea
to make it obey him,
and when he laid foundations
to support the earth.
30 I was right beside the Lord,
helping him plan and build.
I made him happy each day,
and I was happy at his side.
31 I was pleased with his world
and pleased with its people.
32 Pay attention, my children!
Follow my advice,
and you will be happy.
33 Listen carefully
to my instructions,
and you will be wise.
34 Come to my home each day
and listen to me.
You will find happiness.
35 By finding me, you find life,
and the Lord will be pleased
with you.
36 But if you don't find me,
you hurt only yourself,
and if you hate me,
you are in love with death.
1 Doth not wisedome crie? and vnderstanding vtter her voyce? 2 She standeth in the top of the high places by the way in the place of the paths. 3 She cryeth besides the gates before the citie at the entrie of the doores, 4 O men, I call vnto you, and vtter my voyce to the children of men. 5 O ye foolish men, vnderstand wisedome, and ye, O fooles, be wise in heart. 6 Giue eare, for I will speake of excellent things, and the opening of my lippes, shall teache things that be right. 7 For my mouth shall speake the trueth, and my lippes abhorre wickednesse. 8 All the wordes of my mouth are righteous: there is no lewdenes, nor frowardnesse in them. 9 They are all plaine to him that will vnderstande, and streight to them that woulde finde knowledge. 10 Receiue mine instruction, and not siluer, and knowledge rather then fine golde. 11 For wisdome is better then precious stones: and all pleasures are not to be compared vnto her. 12 I wisdome dwell with prudence, and I find foorth knowledge and counsels. 13 The feare of the Lord is to hate euill as pride, and arrogancie, and the euill way: and a mouth that speaketh lewde things, I doe hate. 14 I haue counsell and wisedome: I am vnderstanding, and I haue strength. 15 By me, Kings reigne, and princes decree iustice. 16 By me princes rule and the nobles, and all the iudges of the earth. 17 I loue them that loue me: and they that seeke me earely, shall finde me. 18 Riches and honour are with me: euen durable riches and righteousnesse. 19 My fruite is better then golde, euen then fine golde, and my reuenues better then fine siluer. 20 I cause to walke in the way of righteousnes, and in the middes of the paths of iudgement, 21 That I may cause them that loue me, to inherite substance, and I will fill their treasures. 22 The Lord hath possessed me in the beginning of his way: I was before his workes of olde. 23 I was set vp from euerlasting, from the beginning and before the earth. 24 When there were no depths, was I begotten, when there were no fountaines abounding with water. 25 Before the mountaines were setled: and before the hilles, was I begotten. 26 He had not yet made the earth, nor the open places, nor the height of the dust in the worlde. 27 When hee prepared the heauens, I was there, when he set the compasse vpon the deepe. 28 When he established the cloudes aboue, when he confirmed the fountaines of the deepe, 29 When he gaue his decree to the Sea, that the waters shoulde not passe his commandement: when he appointed the foundations of the earth, 30 Then was I with him as a nourisher, and I was dayly his delight reioycing alway before him, 31 And tooke my solace in the compasse of his earth: and my delite is with the children of men. 32 Therefore nowe hearken, O children, vnto me: for blessed are they that keepe my wayes. 33 Heare instruction, and be ye wise, and refuse it not: blessed is the man that heareth mee, watching dayly at my gates, and giuing attendance at the postes of my doores. 34 For he that findeth me, findeth life, and shall obteine fauour of the Lord. 35 But he that sinneth against me, hurteth his owne soule: and all that hate me, loue death.