Read the Bible

¹ Listen, Wisdom is calling.
    Yes, Understanding is shouting for us.
² Wisdom stands at the top of the hill,
    by the road where the paths meet.
³ She is near the entrance to the city,
    calling from the open gates.

⁴ "I am calling out to all of you.
    I am speaking to everyone.
⁵ You who are ignorant, learn to be wise.
    You who are foolish, get some common sense.
⁶ Listen, I have something important to say,
    and I am telling you what is right.
⁷ My words are true,
    and I will not say anything that is wrong.
⁸ Everything I say is right;
    there is nothing false or crooked about it.
⁹ These things are clear to any intelligent person.
    They are right to anyone with knowledge.
¹⁰ Choose discipline over silver
    and knowledge over the finest gold.
¹¹ Wisdom is better than pearls,
    and nothing you desire compares with her.

¹² "I am Wisdom.
    I live with Good Judgment.
    I am at home with Knowledge and Planning.
¹³ To respect the Lord means to hate evil.
    I hate pride and boasting,
    evil lives and hurtful words.
¹⁴ I have good advice and common sense to offer.
    I have understanding and power.
¹⁵ With my help kings rule,
    and governors make good laws.
¹⁶ With my help leaders govern,
    and important officials make good decisions.^[a]
17 I love those who love me,
    and those who look for me will find me.
¹⁸ With me there are riches and honor.
    I have lasting wealth to give to you.
¹⁹ What I give is better than fine gold.
    What I produce is better than pure silver.
²⁰ I lead people the right way—
    along the paths of justice.
²¹ I give riches to those who love me,
    and I fill their houses with treasures.

²² "The Lord made me in the beginning,
    long before he did anything else.
²³ I was formed a long time ago,
    before the world was made.
²⁴ I was born before there was an ocean,
    before the springs began to flow.
²⁵ I was born before the mountains and hills
    were set into place,
²⁶ before the earth and fields were made,
    before the dust of this world was formed.
²⁷ I was there when he set up the skies,
    when he drew a circle in the ocean to make a place for the land.
²⁸ I was there when he put the clouds in the sky
    and made the deep springs flow.
²⁹ I was there when he set the limits on the sea
    to make it stop where he said.
I was there when he laid the foundations of the earth.
³⁰ I grew up as a child by his side,^[b]
    laughing and playing all the time.
³¹ I played in the world he made
    and enjoyed the people he put there.

³² "Now, children, listen to me.
If you follow my ways,
    you will be happy too.
³³ Listen to my teaching and be wise;
    don't ignore what I say.
³⁴ Whoever waits at my door
    and listens for me will be blessed.
³⁵ Those who find me find life,
    and the Lord will reward them.
³⁶ But those who do not find me put their lives in danger.
    Whoever hates me loves death."