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[1] Does not wisdom call,
does not understanding raise her voice?
[2] On the heights beside the way,
in the paths she takes her stand;
[3] beside the gates in front of the town,
at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:
[4] “To you, O men, I call,
and my cry is to the sons of men.
[5] O simple ones, learn prudence;
O foolish men, pay attention.
[6] Hear, for I will speak noble things,
and from my lips will come what is right;
[7] for my mouth will utter truth;
wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
[8] All the words of my mouth are righteous;
there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.
[9] They are all straight to him who understands
and right to those who find knowledge.
[10] Take my instruction instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than choice gold;
[11] for wisdom is better than jewels,
and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.
[12] I, wisdom, dwell in prudence,
and I find knowledge and discretion.
[13] The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil.
Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
and perverted speech I hate.
[14] I have counsel and sound wisdom,
I have insight, I have strength.
[15] By me kings reign,
and rulers decree what is just;
[16] by me princes rule,
and nobles govern the earth.
[17] I love those who love me,
and those who seek me diligently find me.
[18] Riches and honor are with me,
enduring wealth and prosperity.
[19] My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold,
and my yield than choice silver.
[20] I walk in the way of righteousness,
in the paths of justice,
[21] endowing with wealth those who love me,
and filling their treasuries.
[22] The LORD created me at the beginning of his work,
the first of his acts of old.
[23] Ages ago I was set up,
at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
[24] When there were no depths I was brought forth,
when there were no springs abounding with water.
[25] Before the mountains had been shaped,
before the hills, I was brought forth;
[26] before he had made the earth with its fields,
or the first of the dust of the world.
[27] When he established the heavens, I was there,
when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
[28] when he made firm the skies above,
when he established the fountains of the deep,
[29] when he assigned to the sea its limit,
so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
[30] then I was beside him, like a master workman;
and I was daily his delight,
rejoicing before him always,
[31] rejoicing in his inhabited world
and delighting in the sons of men.
[32] And now, my sons, listen to me:
happy are those who keep my ways.
[33] Hear instruction and be wise,
and do not neglect it.
[34] Happy is the man who listens to me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting beside my doors.
[35] For he who finds me finds life
and obtains favor from the LORD;
[36] but he who misses me injures himself;
all who hate me love death.
The Book of Proverbs is provided for non-commercial purposes by the University of Pennsylvania Center for Computer Analysis of Texts. Licensing information can be found here.
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