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¹ Doth not wisdom cry, and understanding put forth her voice?² In the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she standeth;³ Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud:⁴ Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of men.⁵ O ye simple, understand subtilty; and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.⁶ Hear, for I will speak excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.⁷ For my mouth shall utter truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.⁸ All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing crooked or perverse in them.⁹ They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.¹⁰ Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.¹¹ For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared unto her.

¹² I wisdom have made subtilty my dwelling, and find out knowledge and discretion.¹³ The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.¹⁴ Counsel is mine, and sound knowledge: I am understanding; I have might.¹⁵ By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.¹⁶ By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.¹⁷ I love them that love me; and those that seek me diligently shall find me.¹⁸ Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.¹⁹ My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.²⁰ I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:²¹ That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, and that I may fill their treasuries.

²² The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.²³ I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.²⁴ When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.²⁵ Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:²⁶ While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.²⁷ When he established the heavens, I was there: when he set a circle upon the face of the deep:²⁸ When he made firm the sides above: when the fountains of the deep became strong:²⁹ When he gave to the sea its bound, that the waters should not transgress his commandment: when he marked out the foundations of the earth:³⁰ Then I was by him, as a master workman: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;³¹ Rejoicing in his habitable earth; and my delight was with the sons of men.

³² Now therefore, my sons, hearken unto me: for blessed are they that keep my ways.³³ Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.³⁴ Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.³⁵ For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.³⁶ But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.