1 ARST What is wise{ is surely like a woman who} calls out{ to everyone}. Indeed, what people should understand{ is surely like a woman who} shouts{ to people}. BSB BSB: Does not wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice?
2 ARST What is wise{ is like a woman who} stands at the highest place along the crowded streets{ where everyone can hear her}. BSB BSB: On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads she takes her stand.
3 ARST What is wise{ is like a woman who} cries out next to the gates at the entrance to a city. BSB BSB: Beside the gates to the city, at the entrances she cries out:
4 ARST { She proclaims:}“I am calling out to all of you! I am speaking to all people! BSB BSB: “To you, O men, I call out, and my cry is to the sons of men.
5 ARST You naive people must comprehend what is prudent. You foolish people comprehend how to be discerning. BSB BSB: O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding.
6 ARST Listen{ to what I say}, because I will tell you some excellent things. I will speak to you about what is right. BSB BSB: Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right.
7 ARST { Listen to what I say} because I speak what is true. I detest speaking what is evil. BSB BSB: For my mouth will speak the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips.
8 ARST Everything that I say is righteous. I do not say anything that is false or deceptive. BSB BSB: All the words of my mouth are righteous; none are crooked or perverse.
9 ARST Everything that I say is plain for people who understand.{ Everything that I say} is right to people who have become knowledgeable. BSB BSB: They are all plain to the discerning, and upright to those who find knowledge.
10 ARST Choose{ to learn} what I instruct you instead of silver. Indeed,{ choose to learn} what you should know instead of the finest gold. BSB BSB: Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.
11 ARST { Do this} because I am more valuable than precious jewels. I am more valuable than anything you can desire. BSB BSB: For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her.
12 ARST I am what is wise. I am related to what is prudent. I enable someone to know what is discreet. BSB BSB: I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.
13 ARST Everyone who reverently fears Yahweh hates what is evil.{ I hate it when} people are proud or arrogant. I hate it when people act wickedly and when people speak perversely. BSB BSB: To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.
14 ARST I advise people and enable them to be truly wise. I am what you need to understand. I strengthen people. BSB BSB: Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength.
15 ARST I enable kings to rule{ well}.{ I enable} rulers to make righteous laws. BSB BSB: By me kings reign, and rulers enact just laws;
16 ARST I enable princes to govern; and{ I enable} every royal official who judges righteously{ to govern}. BSB BSB: By me princes rule, and all nobles who govern justly.
17 ARST I{ am what is wise, and} I benefit anyone who loves me. Anyone who earnestly tries to become wise will succeed. BSB BSB: I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.
18 ARST I enable people to become rich and I cause people to honor those people.{ I enable people to have} riches that will last and{ I enable people to become} righteous. BSB BSB: With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and righteousness.
19 ARST What I can give people is more valuable than even the purest gold and the best silver. BSB BSB: My fruit is better than gold, pure gold, and my harvest surpasses choice silver.
20 ARST I{ always} do what is righteous and just BSB BSB: I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
21 ARST in order to give wealth to people who love me. I will fill up the places where they store valuable items. BSB BSB: bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.
23 ARST Yahweh established me a very long time ago— at the very beginning, before the world existed. BSB BSB: From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began.
24 ARST I began to exist before the oceans existed and before there were springs abounding with water. BSB BSB: When there were no watery depths, I was brought forth, when no springs were overflowing with water.
25 ARST I began to exist before Yahweh made the mountains{ and} before the hills{ existed}. BSB BSB: Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth,
26 ARST { I began to exist} before Yahweh made the land or the fields or the first particles of dirt on the earth. BSB BSB: before He made the land or fields, or any of the dust of the earth.
27 ARST I existed when Yahweh made the sky,{ and} when he made the boundary between the sky and the ocean’ s surface. BSB BSB: I was there when He established the heavens, when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,
28 ARST { I existed} when Yahweh made the clouds above{ the earth},{ and} when he made the springs flow at the bottom of the ocean. BSB BSB: when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth,
29 ARST { I existed} when Yahweh set boundaries for the seas, so that the water{ in the seas} would not go past those boundaries.{ I existed} when Yahweh made the boundaries of the land. BSB BSB: when He set a boundary for the sea, so that the waters would not surpass His command, when He marked out the foundations of the earth.
30 ARST At that time I was{ like} someone who was beside Yahweh{ and} helped him create{ everything}. I made him happy every day. I was always rejoicing when I was with him. BSB BSB: Then I was a skilled craftsman at His side, and His delight day by day, rejoicing always in His presence.
31 ARST { I was} rejoicing in the whole world that Yahweh had made. I was also happy with the people{ he had made}. BSB BSB: I was rejoicing in His whole world, delighting together in the sons of men.
32 ARST So now, children, pay attention to what I say!{ Do this} because anyone who behaves wisely will be happy. BSB BSB: Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 ARST Listen to what I teach{ you}, so that you will become wise. Accept what I teach you! BSB BSB: Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.
34 ARST People who listen to me will be happy,{ They are eager to listen to me like} people who wait{ for me} at the door of my house every day.{ They are like} people who diligently wait{ for me} at my doorway. BSB BSB: Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway.
35 ARST { This is true} because people who learn to be wise will live{ a long time}, and Yahweh will approve of them. BSB BSB: For whoever finds me finds life and obtains the favor of the LORD.
36 ARST But those who refuse to be wise hurt themselves. All those who hate to be wise{ are like people who} love death.” BSB BSB: But he who fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.”
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.