¶¹Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?

She standeth² in the top³ of high places⁴, by the way⁵ in the places of the paths⁶.

⁷She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.

⁸Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.

⁹O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

Hear; for¹⁰ I will speak of excellent things; and the opening¹¹ of my lips shall be right things.

For my mouth¹² shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to¹³ my lips.

All¹⁴ the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there¹⁵ is nothing froward¹⁶ or perverse in them.

¹⁷They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

¶¹⁸Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.

For wisdom¹⁹ is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

¶ I wisdom²⁰ dwell with prudence²¹, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.

The fear²² of the LORD is to hate evil: pride²³, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward²⁴ mouth, do I hate.

Counsel²⁵ is mine, and sound²⁶ wisdom: I am understanding; I have²⁷ strength.

By²⁸ me kings reign, and princes decree²⁹ justice.

By me princes³⁰ rule³¹, and nobles³², even all the judges³³ of the earth.

I love³⁴ them that love me; and those³⁵ that seek me early shall find me.

Riches and honour³⁶ are with me; yea, durable³⁷ riches and righteousness³⁸.

³⁹My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.

¶ I lead⁴⁰ in the⁴¹ way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:

That I may cause those that love me to inherit⁴² substance; and I will fill⁴³ their treasures.

¶⁴⁴The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

⁴⁵I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

When there were no depths, I was⁴⁶ brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.

⁴⁷Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:

While as yet⁴⁸ he had not made the earth, nor the fields⁴⁹, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.

When he prepared⁵⁰ the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass⁵¹ upon the face of the depth:

When he established⁵² the clouds⁵³ above: when he strengthened⁵⁴ the fountains⁵⁵ of the deep:

When he gave⁵⁶ to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed⁵⁷ the foundations of the earth:

¶ Then I was by him, as one⁵⁸ brought up with him: and I was daily⁵⁹ his delight, rejoicing always before him;

Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my⁶⁰ delights were with the sons of men.

¶ Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for⁶¹ blessed are they that keep my ways.

Hear⁶² instruction, and be wise, and refuse⁶³ it not.

Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching⁶⁴ daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

For whoso⁶⁵ findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain⁶⁶ favour of the LORD.

But he⁶⁷ that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all⁶⁸ they that hate me love death.