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¹ Doth not wisdom call, 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 thoughtless, understand prudence, 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 perverse or crooked 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 things desirable are not to be compared unto her.

¹² I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of devices.¹³ The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; ¹⁴ Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine.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 earnestly shall find me.¹⁸ Riches and honour are with me; yea, enduring riches and righteousness.¹⁹ My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my produce than choice silver.²⁰ I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice;²¹ That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, and that I may fill their treasuries.

²² The LORD made me as the beginning of His way, the first of 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 skies above, when the fountains of the deep showed their might,²⁹ When He gave to the sea His decree, that the waters should not transgress His commandment, when He appointed the foundations of the earth;³⁰ Then I was by Him, as a nursling; and I was daily all delight, playing always before Him,³¹ Playing in His habitable earth, and my delights are with the sons of men.

³² Now therefore, ye children, hearken unto me; for happy are they that keep my ways.³³ Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.³⁴ Happy is the man that hearkeneth to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.³⁵ For whoso findeth me findeth life, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.³⁶ But he that misseth me wrongeth his own soul; all they that hate me love death.'