King James Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

1Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?

1Does not wisdom call, And understanding lift up her voice?

2She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.

2On top of the heights beside the way, Where the paths meet, she takes her stand;

3She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.

3Beside the gates, at the opening to the city, At the entrance of the doors, she cries out:

4Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.

4"To you, O men, I call, And my voice is to the sons of men.

5O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

5"O naive ones, understand prudence; And, O fools, understand wisdom.

6Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

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

7For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

7"For my mouth will utter truth; And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

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

8"All the utterances of my mouth are in righteousness; There is nothing crooked or perverted in them.

9They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

9"They are all straightforward to him who understands, And right to those who find knowledge.

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

10"Take my instruction and not silver, And knowledge rather than choicest gold.

11For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

11"For wisdom is better than jewels; And all desirable things cannot compare with her.

12I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.

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

13The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

13"The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverted mouth, I hate.

14Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.

14"Counsel is mine and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine.

15By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.

15"By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice.

16By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

16"By me princes rule, and nobles, All who judge rightly.

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

17"I love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me.

18Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.

18"Riches and honor are with me, Enduring wealth and righteousness.

19My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.

19"My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold, And my yield better than choicest silver.

20I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:

20"I walk in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice,

21That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.

21To endow those who love me with wealth, That I may fill their treasuries.

22The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

22"The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old.

23I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

23"From everlasting I was established, From the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth.

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

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

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

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

26While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.

26While He had not yet made the earth and the fields, Nor the first dust of the world.

27When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:

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

28When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:

28When He made firm the skies above, When the springs of the deep became fixed,

29When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

29When He set for the sea its boundary So that the water would not transgress His command, When He marked out the foundations of the earth;

30Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;

30Then I was beside Him, as a master workman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him,

31Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.

31Rejoicing in the world, His earth, And having my delight in the sons of men.

32Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.

32"Now therefore, O sons, listen to me, For blessed are they who keep my ways.

33Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

33"Heed instruction and be wise, And do not neglect it.

34Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

34"Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at my doorposts.

35For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.

35"For he who finds me finds life And obtains favor from the LORD.

36But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

36"But he who sins against me injures himself; All those who hate me love death."

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org