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[1]Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding give forth her voice?
[2]On the top of high places by the way, at the cross-paths she taketh her stand.
[3]Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud.
[4]Unto you, men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of man:
[5]O ye simple, understand prudence; and ye foolish, understand sense.
[6]Hear, for I will speak excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
[7]For my palate shall meditate truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
[8]All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing tortuous or perverse in them.
[9]They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
[10]Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold:
[11]for wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things that may be desired are not equal to it.
[12]I wisdom dwell [with] prudence, and find the knowledge [which cometh] of reflection.
[13]The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil; pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth do I hate.
[14]Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am intelligence; I have strength.
[15]By me kings reign, and rulers make just decrees;
[16]by me princes rule, and nobles, all the judges of the earth.
[17]I love those that love me; and they that seek me early shall find me.
[18]Riches and honour are with me; durable wealth and righteousness.
[19]My fruit is better than fine gold, yea, than pure gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
[20]I walk in the path of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
[21]that I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasuries.
[22]Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
[23]I was set up from eternity, from the beginning, before the earth was.
[24]When there were no depths, I was brought forth, when there were no fountains abounding with water.
[25]Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth;
[26]while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
[27]When he prepared the heavens I was there; when he ordained the circle upon the face of the deep;
[28]when he established the skies above, when the fountains of the deep became strong;
[29]when he imposed on the sea his decree that the waters should not pass his commandment, when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
[30]then I was by him [his] nursling, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
[31]rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth, and my delights [were] with the sons of men.
[32]And now, sons, hearken unto me, and blessed are they that keep my ways:
[33]hear instruction and be wise, and refuse it not.
[34]Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
[35]For whoso findeth me findeth life, and obtaineth favour of Jehovah;
[36]but he that sinneth against me doeth violence to his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
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