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The Excellence of Wisdom

¹ Does not wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice?² On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads she takes her stand.³ Beside the gates to the city, at the entrances she cries out:⁴ “To you, O men, I call out, and my cry is to the sons of men.^{5 (a)}O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding.⁶ Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right.⁷ For my mouth will speak the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips.⁸ All the words of my mouth are righteous; none are crooked or perverse.⁹ They are all plain to the discerning, and upright to those who find knowledge.¹⁰ Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.¹¹ For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her.

¹² I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.¹³ To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.¹⁴ Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength.¹⁵ By me kings reign, and rulers enact just laws;¹⁶ By me princes rule, and all nobles who govern justly^(a).¹⁷ I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.¹⁸ With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and righteousness.¹⁹ My fruit is better than gold, pure gold, and my harvest surpasses choice silver.²⁰ I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,²¹ bestowing wealth on those who love me, and making their treasuries full.

²² The LORD created me as His first course, before His works of old.²³ From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began.²⁴ When there were no watery depths, I was brought forth, when no springs were overflowing with water.²⁵ Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth,²⁶ before He made the land or fields, or any of the dust of the earth.²⁷ I was there when He established the heavens, when He inscribed the horizon on the face of the deep,²⁸ when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth,²⁹ when He set a boundary for the sea, so that the waters would not surpass His command, when He marked out the foundations of the earth.³⁰ Then I was a skilled craftsman at His side, and His delight^(a) day by day, rejoicing always in His presence.³¹ I was rejoicing in His whole world, delighting together in the sons of men.

³² Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.³³ Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.³⁴ Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway.³⁵ For whoever finds me finds life and obtains the favor of the LORD;³⁶ but he who fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.”