Christian Standard Bible

English Standard Version

1Doesn't wisdom call out? Doesn't understanding make her voice heard?

1Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice?

2At the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads, she takes her stand.

2On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand;

3Beside the gates leading into the city, at the main entrance, she cries out:

3beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:

4"People, I call out to you; my cry is to the children of Adam.

4“To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man.

5Learn to be shrewd, you who are inexperienced; develop common sense, you who are foolish.

5O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense.

6Listen, for I speak of noble things, and what my lips say is right.

6Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right,

7For my mouth tells the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips.

7for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

8All the words from my mouth are righteous; none of them are deceptive or perverse.

8All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.

9All of them are clear to the perceptive, and right to those who discover knowledge.

9They are all straight to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge.

10Accept my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.

10Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold,

11For wisdom is better than jewels, and nothing desirable can equal it.

11for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

12I, wisdom, share a home with shrewdness and have knowledge and discretion.

12“I, wisdom, dwell 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.

13The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.

14I possess good advice and sound wisdom; I have understanding and strength.

14I have counsel and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have strength.

15It is by me that kings reign and rulers enact just law;

15By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just;

16by me, princes lead, as do nobles and all righteous judges.

16by me princes rule, and nobles, all who govern justly.

17I love those who love me, and those who search for me find me.

17I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.

18With me are riches and honor, lasting wealth and righteousness.

18Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness.

19My fruit is better than solid gold, and my harvest than pure silver.

19My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver.

20I walk in the ways of righteousness, along the paths of justice,

20I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice,

21giving wealth as an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries.

21granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries.

22"The LORD acquired me at the beginning of his creation, before his works of long ago.

22“The LORD possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old.

23I was formed before ancient times, from the beginning, before the earth began.

23Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.

24I was born when there were no watery depths and no springs filled with water.

24When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water.

25Before the mountains were established, prior to the hills, I was given birth--

25Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth,

26before he made the land, the fields, or the first soil on earth.

26before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world.

27I was there when he established the heavens, when he laid out the horizon on the surface of the ocean,

27When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,

28when he placed the skies above, when the fountains of the ocean gushed out,

28when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep,

29when he set a limit for the sea so that the waters would not violate his command, when he laid out the foundations of the earth.

29when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,

30I was a skilled craftsman beside him. I was his delight every day, always rejoicing before him.

30then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always,

31I was rejoicing in his inhabited world, delighting in the children of Adam.

31rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man.

32"And now, sons, listen to me; those who keep my ways are happy.

32“And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways.

33Listen to instruction and be wise; don't ignore it.

33Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.

34Anyone who listens to me is happy, watching at my doors every day, waiting by the posts of my doorway.

34Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.

35For the one who finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD,

35For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD,

36but the one who misses me harms himself; all who hate me love death."

36but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.”

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.