| Christian Standard Bible | New International Version |
| 1Doesn't wisdom call out? Doesn't understanding make her voice heard? | 1Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? |
| 2At the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads, she takes her stand. | 2At the highest point along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand; |
| 3Beside the gates leading into the city, at the main entrance, she cries out: | 3beside the gate leading into the city, at the entrance, she cries aloud: |
| 4"People, I call out to you; my cry is to the children of Adam. | 4"To you, O people, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind. |
| 5Learn to be shrewd, you who are inexperienced; develop common sense, you who are foolish. | 5You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, set your hearts on it. |
| 6Listen, for I speak of noble things, and what my lips say is right. | 6Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right. |
| 7For my mouth tells the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips. | 7My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness. |
| 8All the words from my mouth are righteous; none of them are deceptive or perverse. | 8All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse. |
| 9All of them are clear to the perceptive, and right to those who discover knowledge. | 9To the discerning all of them are right; they are upright to those who have found knowledge. |
| 10Accept my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold. | 10Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, |
| 11For wisdom is better than jewels, and nothing desirable can equal it. | 11for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. |
| 12I, wisdom, share a home with shrewdness and have knowledge and discretion. | 12"I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion. |
| 13To fear the LORD is to hate evil. I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech. | 13To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. |
| 14I possess good advice and sound wisdom; I have understanding and strength. | 14Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight, I have power. |
| 15It is by me that kings reign and rulers enact just law; | 15By me kings reign and rulers issue decrees that are just; |
| 16by me, princes lead, as do nobles and all righteous judges. | 16by me princes govern, and nobles--all who rule on earth. |
| 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 find me. |
| 18With me are riches and honor, lasting wealth and righteousness. | 18With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. |
| 19My fruit is better than solid gold, and my harvest than pure silver. | 19My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. |
| 20I walk in the ways of righteousness, along the paths of justice, | 20I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, |
| 21giving wealth as an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries. | 21bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me and making their treasuries full. |
| 22"The LORD acquired me at the beginning of his creation, before his works of long ago. | 22"The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; |
| 23I was formed before ancient times, from the beginning, before the earth began. | 23I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be. |
| 24I was born when there were no watery depths and no springs filled with water. | 24When there were no watery depths, I was given birth, when there were no springs overflowing with water; |
| 25Before the mountains were established, prior to the hills, I was given birth-- | 25before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth, |
| 26before he made the land, the fields, or the first soil on earth. | 26before he made the world or its fields or any of the dust of the earth. |
| 27I was there when he established the heavens, when he laid out the horizon on the surface of the ocean, | 27I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, |
| 28when he placed the skies above, when the fountains of the ocean gushed out, | 28when he established the clouds above and fixed securely 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 the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and 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 constantly at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence, |
| 31I was rejoicing in his inhabited world, delighting in the children of Adam. | 31rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind. |
| 32"And now, sons, listen to me; those who keep my ways are happy. | 32"Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. |
| 33Listen to instruction and be wise; don't ignore it. | 33Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it. |
| 34Anyone who listens to me is happy, watching at my doors every day, waiting by the posts of my doorway. | 34Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. |
| 35For the one who finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD, | 35For those who find me find life and receive favor from the LORD. |
| 36but the one who misses me harms himself; all who hate me love death." | 36But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death." |
| The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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