English Standard Version

King James Bible

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

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

2On the heights beside the way, 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 in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

7For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

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

8All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.

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

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

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

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

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

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

12“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.

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

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

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

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

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

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

15By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

21granting 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 possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

26While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.

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

27When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:

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

28When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:

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,

29When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

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

30Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.