New Living Translation

New American Standard Bible 1995

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

20I walk in righteousness, in paths of justice.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 set for the sea its boundary So that the water would not transgress His command, When He marked out 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 beside Him, as a master workman; 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 world, His earth, And having my delight in the sons of men.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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