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New International Version (NIV) |
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1 Doth not wisdom cry ? and understanding put forth her voice?
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1 Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?
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2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
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2 On the heights along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
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3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
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3 beside the gates leading into the city, at the entrances, she cries aloud:
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4 Unto you, O men, I call ; and my voice is to the sons of man.
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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 ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
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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 of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
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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 shall speak truth; and 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 in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse 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 plain to him that understandeth , and right to them that 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 Receive my instruction, and not 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 rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
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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 with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
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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 to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do 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 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; 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 princes decree justice.
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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, even all the judges of 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 them that love me; and those that seek me early shall 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 honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
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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, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue 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 lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
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20 I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
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21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
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21 bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.
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22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works 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 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
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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 fountains 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 were settled , before the hills was I 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 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part 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 prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
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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 established the clouds above: when he strengthened 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 gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed 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 by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
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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 the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
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31 rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind.
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32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that 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 refuse it not.
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33 Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.
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34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of 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 whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of 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 that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that 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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| The King James Version is in the public domain. (The King James Bible Version Online) |
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) |
