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[1]Doth not wisdom cry? And understanding utter her voice?
[2]She standeth in the top of the high places by the way in the place of the paths.
[3]She crieth besides the gates before the city at the entry of the doors,
[4]O men, I call unto you, and utter my voice to the children of men.
[5]O ye foolish men, understand wisdom, and ye, O fools, be wise in heart.
[6]Give ear, for I will speak of excellent things, and the opening of my lips, shall teach things that be right.
[7]For my mouth shall speak the truth, and my lips abhor wickedness.
[8]All the words of my mouth are righteous: there is no lewdness, nor frowardness in them.
[9]They are all plain to him that will understand, and straight to them that would find knowledge.
[10]Receive mine instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than fine gold.
[11]For wisdom is better than precious stones: and all pleasures are not to be compared unto her.
[12]I wisdom dwell with prudence, and I find forth knowledge and counsels.
[13]The fear of the Lord is to hate evil as pride, and arrogance, and the evil way: and a mouth that speaketh lewd things, I do hate.
[14]I have counsel and wisdom: I am understanding, and I have strength.
[15]By me, kings reign, and princes decree justice.
[16]By me princes rule and the nobles, and all the judges of the earth.
[17]I love them that love me: and they that seek me early, shall find me.
[18]Riches and honor are with me: even durable riches and righteousness.
[19]My fruit is better than gold, even than fine gold, and my revenues better than fine silver.
[20]I cause to walk in the way of righteousness, and in the midst of the paths of judgment,
[21]That I may cause them that love me, to inherit substance, and I will fill their treasures.
[22]The Lord hath possessed me in the beginning of his way: I was before his works of old.
[23]I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning and before the earth.
[24]When there were no depths, was I begotten, when there were no fountains abounding with water.
[25]Before the mountains were settled: and before the hills, was I begotten.
[26]He had not yet made the earth, nor the open places, nor the height of the dust in the world.
[27]When he prepared the heavens, I was there, when he set the compass upon the deep.
[28]When he established the clouds above, when he confirmed the fountains of the deep,
[29]When he gave his decree to the sea, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth,
[30]Then was I with him as a nourisher, and I was daily his delight rejoicing alway before him,
[31]And took my solace in the compass of his earth: and my delight is with the children of men.
[32]Therefore now hearken, O children, unto me: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
[33]Hear instruction, and be ye wise, and refuse it not: blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, and giving attendance at the posts of my doors.
[34]For he that findeth me, findeth life, and shall obtain favor of the Lord.
[35]But he that sinneth against me, hurteth his own soul: and all that hate me, love death.
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