| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1Isn't wisdom calling out; isn't understanding raising her voice? | 1Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? |
| 2On top of the highest places along the road she stands where the roads meet. | 2At the top of the elevated places along the way, at the intersection of the paths she takes her stand; |
| 3Beside the gates, at the city entrance— at the entrance to the portals she cries aloud: | 3beside the gates opening into the city, at the entrance of the doorways she cries out: |
| 4"I'm calling to you, men! What I have to say pertains to all mankind! | 4"To you, O people, I call out, and my voice calls to all mankind. |
| 5Understand prudence, you naïve people; and gain an understanding heart, you foolish ones. | 5You who are naive, discern wisdom! And you fools, understand discernment! |
| 6Listen, because I have noble things to say, and what I have to say will reveal what is right. | 6Listen, for I will speak excellent things, and my lips will utter what is right. |
| 7For my mouth speaks the truth— wickedness is detestable to me. | 7For my mouth speaks truth, and my lips hate wickedness. |
| 8Everything I have to say is just; there isn't anything corrupt or perverse in my speech. | 8All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing in them twisted or crooked. |
| 9Everything I say is sensible to someone who understands, and correct to those who have acquired knowledge. | 9All of them are clear to the discerning and upright to those who find knowledge. |
| 10Grab hold of my instruction in lieu of money and knowledge instead of the finest gold, | 10Receive my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold. |
| 11because wisdom is better than precious gems and nothing you desire can compare to it." | 11For wisdom is better than rubies, and desirable things cannot be compared to her. |
| 12"I, wisdom, am related to prudence. I know how to be discreet. | 12"I, wisdom, live with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. |
| 13The fear of the LORD is to hate evil. Pride, arrogance, an evil lifestyle, and perverted speech I despise. | 13The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride and the evil way and perverse utterances. |
| 14Counsel belongs to me, along with sound judgment. I am understanding. Power belongs to me. | 14Counsel and sound wisdom belong to me; I possess understanding and might. |
| 15Kings reign by me, and rulers dispense justice through me. | 15Kings reign by means of me, and potentates decree righteousness; |
| 16By me leaders rule, as do noble officials and all who govern justly. | 16by me princes rule, as well as nobles and all righteous judges. |
| 17I love those who love me, and those who seek me will find me. | 17I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. |
| 18Wealth and honor accompany me, as do enduring wealth and righteousness. | 18Riches and honor are with me, long-lasting wealth and righteousness. |
| 19My fruit is better than gold, better than even refined gold, and my benefit surpasses the purest silver. | 19My fruit is better than the purest gold, and what I produce is better than choice silver. |
| 20I walk on the way of righteousness, along paths that are just, | 20I walk in the path of righteousness, in the pathway of justice, |
| 21I bequeath wealth to those who love me, and I will fill their treasuries." | 21that I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, and that I may fill their treasuries. |
| 22"The LORD made me as he began his planning, before his ancient activity commenced. | 22The LORD created me as the beginning of his works, before his deeds of long ago. |
| 23From eternity I was appointed, from the beginning, from before there was land. | 23From eternity I was appointed, from the beginning, from before the world existed. |
| 24When there were no ocean depths, I brought them to birth at a time when there were no springs. | 24When there were no deep oceans I was born, when there were no springs overflowing with water; |
| 25Before the mountains were shaped, before there were hills, I was bringing them to birth. | 25before the mountains were set in place--before the hills--I was born, |
| 26Even though he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the world's first grains of dust, | 26before he made the earth and its fields, or the beginning of the dust of the world. |
| 27when he crafted the heavens, I was there— when he marked out a circle on the face of the deep, | 27When he established the heavens, I was there; when he marked out the horizon over the face of the deep, |
| 28when he made the clouds from above, when the springs of the depths were established, | 28when he established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep grew strong, |
| 29when he set a boundary for the sea so the waters would not exceed his limits, when he marked out the foundations of the earth. | 29when he gave the sea his decree that the waters should not pass over his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, |
| 30Then I was with him, his master craftsman— I was his delight daily, continuously rejoicing in his presence, | 30then I was beside him as a master craftsman, and I was his delight day by day, rejoicing before him at all times, |
| 31rejoicing in his inhabitable world and taking delight in mankind." | 31rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth, and delighting in its people. |
| 32"So listen to me, children! Blessed are those who obey me. | 32"So now, 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 so that you may be wise, and do not neglect it. |
| 34Blessed is the person who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my doorways— | 34Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching at my doors day by day, waiting beside my doorway. |
| 35because those who find me find life and gain favor from the LORD. | 35For the one who finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD. |
| 36But whoever sins against me destroys himself; everyone who hates me loves death." | 36But the one who does not find me brings harm to himself; all who hate me love death." |
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