The Excellence of Wisdom

1Thou shalt proclaim wisdom, that understanding may be obedient to thee.

2For she is on lofty eminences, and stands in the midst of the ways.

3For she sits by the gates of princes, and sings in the entrances, saying,

4You, O men, I exhort; and utter my voice to the sons of men.

5O ye simple, understand subtlety, and ye that are untaught, imbibe knowledge.

6Hearken to me; for I will speak solemn truths; and will produce right sayings from my lips.

7For my throat shall meditate truth; and false lips are an abomination before me.

8All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing in them wrong or perverse.

9They are all evident to those that understand, and right to those that find knowledge.

10Receive instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than tried gold.

11For wisdom is better than precious stones; and no valuable substance is of equal worth with it.

12I wisdom have dwelt with counsel and knowledge, and I have called upon understanding.

13The fear of the Lord hates unrighteousness, and insolence, and pride, and the ways of wicked men; and I hate the perverse ways of bad men.

14Counsel and safety are mine; prudence is mine, and strength is mine.

15By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.

16By me nobles become great, and monarchs by me rule over the earth.

17I love those that love me; and they that seek me shall find me.

18Wealth and glory belong to me; yea, abundant possessions and righteousness.

19It is better to have my fruit than to have gold and precious stones; and my produce is better than choice silver.

20I walk in ways of righteousness, and am conversant with the paths of judgment;

21that I may divide substance to them that love me, and may fill their treasures with good things. If I declare to you the things that daily happen, I will remember also to recount the things of old.

22The Lord made me the beginning of his ways for his works.

23He established me before time was in the beginning, before he made the earth:

24even before he made the depths; before the fountains of water came forth:

25before the mountains were settled, and before all hills, he begets me.

26The Lord made countries and uninhabited tracks, and the highest inhabited parts of the world.

27When he prepared the heaven, I was present with him; and when he prepared his throne upon the winds:

28and when he strengthened the clouds above; and when he secured the fountains of the earth:

29and when he strengthened the foundations of the earth:

30I was by him, suiting myself to him, I was that wherein he took delight; and daily I rejoiced in his presence continually.

31For he rejoiced when he had completed the world, and rejoiced among the children of men.

32Now then, my son, hear me: blessed is the man who shall hearken to me, and the mortal who shall keep my ways;

34watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my entrances.

35For my outgoings are the outgoings of life, and in them is prepared favour from the Lord.

36But they that sin against me act wickedly against their own souls: and they that hate me love death.