| Revised Standard Version (RSV) |
New International Version (NIV) |
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1 Does not wisdom call, does not understanding raise her voice?
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1 Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?
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2 On the heights beside the way, in the paths she takes her stand;
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2 On the heights along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
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3 beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:
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3 beside the gates leading into the city, at the entrances, she cries aloud:
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4 "To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the sons of men.
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4 "To you, O men, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind.
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5 O simple ones, learn prudence; O foolish men, pay attention.
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5 You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, gain understanding.
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6 Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right;
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6 Listen, for I have worthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right.
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7 for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
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7 My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness.
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8 All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.
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8 All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse.
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9 They are all straight to him who understands and right to those who find knowledge.
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9 To the discerning all of them are right; they are faultless to those who have knowledge.
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10 Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold;
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10 Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold,
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11 for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.
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11 for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.
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12 I, wisdom, dwell in prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.
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12 "I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion.
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13 The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.
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13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
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14 I have counsel and sound wisdom, I have insight, I have strength.
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14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have understanding and power.
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15 By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just;
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15 By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just;
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16 by me princes rule, and nobles govern the earth.
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16 by me princes govern, and all nobles who rule on earth.
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17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.
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17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.
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18 Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and prosperity.
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18 With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.
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19 My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver.
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19 My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver.
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20 I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice,
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20 I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
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21 endowing with wealth those who love me, and filling their treasuries.
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21 bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.
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22 The LORD created me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old.
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22 "The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old;
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23 Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
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23 I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began.
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24 When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water.
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24 When there were no oceans, I was given birth, when there were no springs abounding with water;
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25 Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth;
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25 before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth,
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26 before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world.
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26 before he made the earth or its fields or any of the dust of the world.
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27 When he established the heavens, I was there, when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
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27 I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,
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28 when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep,
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28 when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,
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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,
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29 when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.
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30 then I was beside him, like a master workman; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always,
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30 Then I was the craftsman at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence,
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31 rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the sons of men.
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31 rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind.
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32 And now, my sons, listen to me: happy are those who keep my ways.
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32 "Now then, my sons, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.
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33 Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.
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33 Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.
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34 Happy is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.
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34 Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.
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35 For he who finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD;
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35 For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD.
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36 but he who misses me injures himself; all who hate me love death."
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36 But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death."
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| Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. (Revised Standard Version - Holy Bible) |
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |
