The Excellence of Wisdom

1{2}Standing in the top of the highest places by the way, in the midst of the paths,

2{3}Beside the gates of the city, in the very doors she speaketh, saying:

3{4}O ye men, to you I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.

4{5}O little ones understand subtlety, and ye unwise, take notice.

5{6}Hear, for I will speak of great things: and my lips shall be opened to preach right things.

6{7}My mouth shall meditate truth, and my lips shall hate wickedness.

7{8}All my words are just, there is nothing wicked, nor perverse in them.

8{9}They are right to them that understand, and just to them that find knowledge.

9{10}Receive my instruction, and not money: choose knowledge rather than gold.

10{11}For wisdom is better than all the most precious things: and whatsoever may be desired cannot be compared to it.

11{12}I, wisdom, dwell in counsel, and am present in learned thoughts.

12{13}The fear of the Lord hateth evil; I hate arrogance, and pride, and every wicked way, and a mouth with a double tongue.

13{14}Counsel and equity is mine, prudence is mine, strength is mine.

14{15}By me kings reign, and lawgivers decree just things.

15{16}By me princes rule, and the mighty decree justice.

16{17}I love them that love me: and they that in the morning early watch for me, shall find me.

17{18}With me are riches and glory, glorious riches and justice.

18{19}For my fruit is better than gold and the precious stone, and my blossoms than choice silver.

19{20}I walk in the way of justice, in the midst of the paths of judgment,

20{21}That I may enrich them that love me, and may fill their treasures.

21{22}The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his ways, before he made any thing from the beginning.

22{23}I was set up from eternity, and of old, before the earth was made.

23{24}The depths were not as yet, and I was already conceived, neither had the fountains of waters as yet sprung out.

24{25}The mountains, with their huge bulk, had not as yet been established: before the hills, I was brought forth:

25{26}He had not yet made the earth, nor the rivers, nor the poles of the world.

26{27}When he prepared the heavens, I was present: when with a certain law, and compass, he enclosed the depths:

27{28}When he established the sky above, and poised the fountains of waters:

28{29}When he compassed the sea with its bounds, and set a law to the waters that they should not pass their limits: when he balanced the foundations of the earth;

29{30}I was with him forming all things: and was delighted every day, playing before him at all times;

30{31}Playing in the world: and my delights were to be with the children of men.

31{32}Now, therefore, ye children, hear me: blessed are they that keep my ways.

32{33}Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

33{34}Blessed is the man that heareth me, and that watcheth daily at my gates, and waiteth at the posts of my doors.

34{35}He that shall find me, shall find life, and shall have salvation from the Lord.

35{36}But he that shall sin against me shall hurt his own soul. All that hate me love death.

36{9:1}Wisdom hath built herself a house, she hath hewn her out seven pillars.