Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible RHE
New Living Translation NLT
1 Doth not wisdom cry aloud, and prudence put forth her voice?
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Listen as Wisdom calls out! Hear as understanding raises her voice!
2 Standing in the top of the highest places by the way, in the midst of the paths,
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On the hilltop along the road, she takes her stand at the crossroads.
3 Beside the gates of the city, in the very doors she speaketh, saying:
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By the gates at the entrance to the town, on the road leading in, she cries aloud,
4 O ye men, to you I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.
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“I call to you, to all of you! I raise my voice to all people.
5 O little ones understand subtlety, and ye unwise, take notice.
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You simple people, use good judgment. You foolish people, show some understanding.
6 Hear, for I will speak of great things: and my lips shall be opened to preach right things.
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Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you. Everything I say is right,
7 My mouth shall meditate truth, and my lips shall hate wickedness.
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for I speak the truth and detest every kind of deception.
8 All my words are just, there is nothing wicked, nor perverse in them.
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My advice is wholesome. There is nothing devious or crooked in it.
9 They are right to them that understand, and just to them that find knowledge.
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My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those with knowledge.
10 Receive my instruction, and not money: choose knowledge rather than gold.
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Choose my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.
11 For wisdom is better than all the most precious things: and whatsoever may be desired cannot be compared to it.
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For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it.
12 I, wisdom, dwell in counsel, and am present in learned thoughts.
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“I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment. I know where to discover knowledge and discernment.
13 The fear of the Lord hateth evil; I hate arrogance, and pride, and every wicked way, and a mouth with a double tongue.
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All who fear the LORD will hate evil. Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech.
14 Counsel and equity is mine, prudence is mine, strength is mine.
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Common sense and success belong to me. Insight and strength are mine.
15 By me kings reign, and lawgivers decree just things.
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Because of me, kings reign, and rulers make just decrees.
16 By me princes rule, and the mighty decree justice.
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Rulers lead with my help, and nobles make righteous judgments.
17 I love them that love me: and they that in the morning early watch for me, shall find me.
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“I love all who love me. Those who search will surely find me.
18 With me are riches and glory, glorious riches and justice.
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I have riches and honor, as well as enduring wealth and justice.
19 For my fruit is better than gold and the precious stone, and my blossoms than choice silver.
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My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold, my wages better than sterling silver!
20 I walk in the way of justice, in the midst of the paths of judgment,
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I walk in righteousness, in paths of justice.
21 That I may enrich them that love me, and may fill their treasures.
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Those who love me inherit wealth. I will fill their treasuries.
22 The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his ways, before he made any thing from the beginning.
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“The LORD formed me from the beginning, before he created anything else.
23 I was set up from eternity, and of old, before the earth was made.
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I was appointed in ages past, at the very first, before the earth began.
24 The depths were not as yet, and I was already conceived, neither had the fountains of waters as yet sprung out.
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I was born before the oceans were created, before the springs bubbled forth their waters.
25 The mountains, with their huge bulk, had not as yet been established: before the hills, I was brought forth:
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Before the mountains were formed, before the hills, I was born—
26 He had not yet made the earth, nor the rivers, nor the poles of the world.
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before he had made the earth and fields and the first handfuls of soil.
27 When he prepared the heavens, I was present: when with a certain law, and compass, he enclosed the depths:
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I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew the horizon on the oceans.
28 When he established the sky above, and poised the fountains of waters:
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I was there when he set the clouds above, when he established springs deep in the earth.
29 When he compassed the sea with its bounds, and set a law to the waters that they should not pass their limits: when he balanced the foundations of the earth;
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I was there when he set the limits of the seas, so they would not spread beyond their boundaries. And when he marked off the earth’s foundations,
30 I was with him forming all things: and was delighted every day, playing before him at all times;
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I was the architect at his side. I was his constant delight, rejoicing always in his presence.
31 Playing in the world: and my delights were to be with the children of men.
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And how happy I was with the world he created; how I rejoiced with the human family!
32 Now, therefore, ye children, hear me: blessed are they that keep my ways.
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“And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful.
33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
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Listen to my instruction and be wise. Don’t ignore it.
34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, and that watcheth daily at my gates, and waiteth at the posts of my doors.
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Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home!
35 He that shall find me, shall find life, and shall have salvation from the Lord.
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For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD .
36 But he that shall sin against me shall hurt his own soul. All that hate me love death.
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But those who miss me injure themselves. All who hate me love death.”
The Douay-Rheims Bible is in the public domain.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.