| King James Bible | New International Version |
| 1Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? | 1Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? |
| 2She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths. | 2At the highest point along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand; |
| 3She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors. | 3beside the gate leading into the city, at the entrance, she cries aloud: |
| 4Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man. | 4"To you, O people, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind. |
| 5O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. | 5You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, set your hearts on it. |
| 6Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. | 6Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right. |
| 7For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. | 7My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness. |
| 8All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them. | 8All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse. |
| 9They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge. | 9To the discerning all of them are right; they are upright to those who have found knowledge. |
| 10Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. | 10Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, |
| 11For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. | 11for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. |
| 12I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions. | 12"I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion. |
| 13The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. | 13To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. |
| 14Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength. | 14Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight, I have power. |
| 15By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. | 15By me kings reign and rulers issue decrees that are just; |
| 16By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth. | 16by me princes govern, and nobles--all who rule on earth. |
| 17I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. | 17I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. |
| 18Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. | 18With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. |
| 19My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. | 19My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. |
| 20I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: | 20I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, |
| 21That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures. | 21bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me and making their treasuries full. |
| 22The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. | 22"The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; |
| 23I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. | 23I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be. |
| 24When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. | 24When there were no watery depths, I was given birth, when there were no springs overflowing with water; |
| 25Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: | 25before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth, |
| 26While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. | 26before he made the world or its fields or any of the dust of the earth. |
| 27When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: | 27I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, |
| 28When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: | 28when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep, |
| 29When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed 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. |
| 30Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; | 30Then I was constantly at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence, |
| 31Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. | 31rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind. |
| 32Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. | 32"Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. |
| 33Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. | 33Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it. |
| 34Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. | 34Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. |
| 35For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. | 35For those who find me find life and receive favor from the LORD. |
| 36But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death. | 36But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death." |
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