New King James Version NKJV
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 Does not wisdom cry out, And understanding lift up her voice?
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Does not wisdom call, does not understanding raise her voice?
2 She takes her stand on the top of the high hill, Beside the way, where the paths meet.
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On the heights beside the way, in the paths she takes her stand;
3 She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city, At the entrance of the doors:
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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 voice is to the sons of men.
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"To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the sons of men.
5 O you simple ones, understand prudence, And you fools, be of an understanding heart.
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O simple ones, learn prudence; O foolish men, pay attention.
6 Listen, for I will speak of excellent things, And from the opening of my lips will come right things;
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Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right;
7 For my mouth will speak truth; Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
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for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; Nothing crooked or perverse is in them.
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All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.
9 They are all plain to him who understands, And right to those who find knowledge.
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They are all straight to him who understands and right to those who find knowledge.
10 Receive my instruction, and not silver, And knowledge rather than choice gold;
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Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold;
11 For wisdom is better than rubies, And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.
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for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.
12 "I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And find out knowledge and discretion.
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I, wisdom, dwell in prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.
13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.
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The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.
14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength.
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I have counsel and sound wisdom, I have insight, I have strength.
15 By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice.
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By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just;
16 By me princes rule, and nobles, All the judges of the earth.
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by me princes rule, and nobles govern the earth.
17 I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me.
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I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.
18 Riches and honor are with me, Enduring riches and righteousness.
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Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and prosperity.
19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, And my revenue than choice silver.
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My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver.
20 I traverse the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice,
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I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice,
21 That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, That I may fill their treasuries.
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endowing with wealth those who love me, and filling their treasuries.
22 "The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old.
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The LORD created me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old.
23 I have been established from everlasting, From the beginning, before there was ever an earth.
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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 fountains abounding with water.
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When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills, I was brought forth;
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Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth;
26 While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields, Or the primeval dust of the world.
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before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world.
27 When He prepared the heavens, I was there, When He drew a circle on the face of the deep,
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When he established the heavens, I was there, when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
28 When He established the clouds above, When He strengthened the fountains of the deep,
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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 would not transgress His command, When He marked out the foundations of the earth,
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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 as a master craftsman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him,
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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 my delight was with the sons of men.
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rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the sons of men.
32 "Now therefore, listen to me, my children, For blessed are those who keep my ways.
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And now, my sons, listen to me: happy are those who keep my ways.
33 Hear instruction and be wise, And do not disdain it.
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Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.
34 Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors.
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Happy is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.
35 For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the Lord;
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For he who finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD;
36 But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; All those who hate me love death."
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but he who misses me injures himself; all who hate me love death."