English Standard Version

Berean Study Bible

1Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice?

1Does not wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice?

2On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand;

2On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads she takes her stand.

3beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:

3Beside the gates to the city, at the entrances she cries out:

4“To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man.

4“To you, O men, I call out, and my cry is to the sons of men.

5O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense.

5O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding.

6Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right,

6Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right.

7for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

7For my mouth will speak the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips.

8All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.

8All the words of my mouth are righteous; none are crooked or perverse.

9They are all straight to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge.

9They are all plain to the discerning, and upright to those who find knowledge.

10Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold,

10Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.

11for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

11For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her.

12“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.

12I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.

13The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.

13To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.

14I have counsel and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have strength.

14Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength.

15By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just;

15By me kings reign, and rulers enact just laws;

16by me princes rule, and nobles, all who govern justly.

16By me princes rule, and all nobles who govern justly.

17I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.

17I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.

18Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness.

18With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and righteousness.

19My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver.

19My fruit is better than gold, pure gold, and my harvest surpasses choice silver.

20I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice,

20I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,

21granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries.

21bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.

22“The LORD possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old.

22The LORD created me as His first course, before His works of old.

23Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.

23From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began.

24When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water.

24When there were no watery depths, I was brought forth, when no springs were overflowing with water.

25Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth,

25Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth,

26before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world.

26before He made the land or fields, or any of the dust of the earth.

27When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,

27I was there when He established the heavens, when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,

28when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep,

28when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth,

29when 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,

29when He set a boundary for the sea, so that the waters would not surpass His command, when He marked out the foundations of the earth.

30then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always,

30Then I was a skilled craftsman at His side, and His delight day by day, rejoicing always in His presence.

31rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man.

31I was rejoicing in His whole world, delighting together in the sons of men.

32“And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways.

32Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.

33Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.

33Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.

34Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.

34Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway.

35For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD,

35For whoever finds me finds life and obtains the favor of the LORD.

36but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.”

36But he who fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.”

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

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