Christian Standard Bible

King James Bible

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

1Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?

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

2She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.

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

3She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.

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

4Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.

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

5O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

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

6Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

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

7For my mouth shall speak truth; and 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 in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.

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

9They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

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

10Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.

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

11For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

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

12I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.

13To fear the LORD is to hate evil. I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.

13The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

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

14Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.

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

15By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.

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

16By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

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

17I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

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

18Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.

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

19My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.

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

20I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:

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

21That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.

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

22The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

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

23I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

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 fountains abounding with water.

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

25Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:

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

26While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part 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 prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:

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

28When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened 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 gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed 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 by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;

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

31Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.

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

32Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.

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

33Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

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

34Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

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

35For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.

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

36But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

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

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.