✧Does not wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice? ✧2On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads she takes her stand. ✧3Beside the gates to the city, at the entrances she cries out: ✧4“To you, O men, I call out, and my cry is to the sons of men. ✧5O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding. ✧6Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right. ✧7For my mouth will speak the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips. ✧8All the words of my mouth are righteous; none are crooked or perverse. ✧9They are all plain to the discerning, and upright to those who find knowledge. ✧10Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold. ✧11For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her. ✧12I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. ✧13To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech. ✧14Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength. ✧15By me kings reign, and rulers enact just laws; ✧16By me princes rule, and all nobles who govern justly. ✧17I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me. ✧18With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and righteousness. ✧19My fruit is better than gold, pure gold, and my harvest surpasses choice silver. ✧20I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, ✧21bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full. ✧22The LORD created me as His first course, before His works of old. ✧23From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began. ✧24When there were no watery depths, I was brought forth, when no springs were overflowing with water. ✧25Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth, ✧26before He made the land or fields, or any of the dust of the earth. ✧27I was there when He established the heavens, when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep, ✧28when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth, ✧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 a skilled craftsman at His side, and His delight day by day, rejoicing always in His presence. ✧31I was rejoicing in His whole world, delighting together in the sons of men. ✧32Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways. ✧33Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it. ✧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 the favor of the LORD. ✧36But he who fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.”