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[1]Thou shalt proclaim wisdom, that understanding may be obedient to thee.
[2]For she is on lofty eminences, and stands in the midst of the ways.
[3]For she sits by the gates of princes, and sings in the entrances, saying,
[4]You, O men, I exhort; and utter my voice to the sons of men.
[5]O ye simple, understand subtlety, and ye that are untaught, imbibe knowledge.
[6]Hearken to me; for I will speak solemn truths; and will produce right sayings from my lips.
[7]For my throat shall meditate truth; and false lips are an abomination before me.
[8]All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing in them wrong or perverse.
[9]They are all evident to those that understand, and right to those that find knowledge.
[10]Receive instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than tried gold.
[11]For wisdom is better than precious stones; and no valuable substance is of equal worth with it.
[12]I wisdom have dwelt with counsel and knowledge, and I have called upon understanding.
[13]The fear of the Lord hates unrighteousness, and insolence, and pride, and the ways of wicked men; and I hate the perverse ways of bad men.
[14]Counsel and safety are mine; prudence is mine, and strength is mine.
[15]By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
[16]By me nobles become great, and monarchs by me rule over the earth.
[17]I love those that love me; and they that seek me shall find me.
[18]Wealth and glory belong to me; yea, abundant possessions and righteousness.
[19]It is better to have my fruit than to have gold and precious stones; and my produce is better than choice silver.
[20]I walk in ways of righteousness, and am conversant with the paths of judgment;
[21]that I may divide substance to them that love me, and may fill their treasures with good things. If I declare to you the things that daily happen, I will remember also to recount the things of old.
[22]The Lord made me the beginning of his ways for his works.
[23]He established me before time was in the beginning, before he made the earth:
[24]even before he made the depths; before the fountains of water came forth:
[25]before the mountains were settled, and before all hills, he begets me.
[26]The Lord made countries and uninhabited tracks, and the highest inhabited parts of the world.
[27]When he prepared the heaven, I was present with him; and when he prepared his throne upon the winds:
[28]and when he strengthened the clouds above; and when he secured the fountains of the earth:
[29]and when he strengthened the foundations of the earth:
[30]I was by him, suiting myself to him, I was that wherein he took delight; and daily I rejoiced in his presence continually.
[31]For he rejoiced when he had completed the world, and rejoiced among the children of men.
[32]Now then, my son, hear me: blessed is the man who shall hearken to me, and the mortal who shall keep my ways;
[33][No verse]
[34]watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my entrances.
[35]For my outgoings are the outgoings of life, and in them is prepared favour from the Lord.
[36]But they that sin against me act wickedly against their own souls: and they that hate me love death.
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