New Living Translation

King James Bible

1Listen as Wisdom calls out! Hear as understanding raises her voice!

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

2On the hilltop along the road, she takes her stand at the crossroads.

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

3By the gates at the entrance to the town, on the road leading in, she cries aloud,

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

4“I call to you, to all of you! I raise my voice to all people.

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

5You simple people, use good judgment. You foolish people, show some understanding.

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

6Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you. Everything I say is right,

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

7for I speak the truth and detest every kind of deception.

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

8My advice is wholesome. There is nothing devious or crooked in it.

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

9My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those with knowledge.

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

10Choose my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.

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

11For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it.

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

12“I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment. I know where to discover knowledge and discernment.

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

13All who fear the LORD will hate evil. Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech.

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

14Common sense and success belong to me. Insight and strength are mine.

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

15Because of me, kings reign, and rulers make just decrees.

15By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.

16Rulers lead with my help, and nobles make righteous judgments.

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

17“I love all who love me. Those who search will surely find me.

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

18I have riches and honor, as well as enduring wealth and justice.

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

19My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold, my wages better than sterling silver!

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

20I walk in righteousness, in paths of justice.

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

21Those who love me inherit wealth. I will fill their treasuries.

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

22“The LORD formed me from the beginning, before he created anything else.

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

23I was appointed in ages past, at the very first, before the earth began.

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

24I was born before the oceans were created, before the springs bubbled forth their waters.

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

25Before the mountains were formed, before the hills, I was born—

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

26before he had made the earth and fields and the first handfuls of soil.

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

27I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew the horizon on the oceans.

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

28I was there when he set the clouds above, when he established springs deep in the earth.

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

29I 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,

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

30I was the architect at his side. I was his constant delight, rejoicing always in his presence.

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

31And how happy I was with the world he created; how I rejoiced with the human family!

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

32“And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful.

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

33Listen to my instruction and be wise. Don’t ignore it.

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

34Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home!

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

35For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD.

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

36But those who miss me injure themselves. All who hate me love death.”

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

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.