The Excellence of Wisdom 1 Brenton Thou shalt proclaim wisdom, that understanding may be obedient to thee. BSB BSB: Does not wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice?
2 Brenton For she is on lofty eminences, and stands in the midst of the ways. BSB BSB: On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads she takes her stand.
3 Brenton For she sits by the gates of princes, and sings in the entrances, saying , BSB BSB: Beside the gates to the city, at the entrances she cries out:
4 Brenton You, O men, I exhort; and utter my voice to the sons of men. BSB BSB: “To you, O men, I call out, and my cry is to the sons of men.
5 Brenton O ye simple, understand subtlety, and ye that are untaught, imbibe knowledge. BSB BSB: O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding.
6 Brenton Hearken to me; for I will speak solemn truths ; and will produce right sayings from my lips. BSB BSB: Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right.
7 Brenton For my throat shall meditate truth; and false lips are an abomination before me. BSB BSB: For my mouth will speak the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips.
8 Brenton All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing in them wrong or perverse. BSB BSB: All the words of my mouth are righteous; none are crooked or perverse.
9 Brenton They are all evident to those that understand, and right to those that find knowledge. BSB BSB: They are all plain to the discerning, and upright to those who find knowledge.
10 Brenton Receive instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than tried gold. BSB BSB: Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.
11 Brenton For wisdom is better than precious stones; and no valuable substance is of equal worth with it. BSB BSB: For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her.
12 Brenton I wisdom have dwelt with counsel and knowledge, and I have called upon understanding. BSB BSB: I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.
13 Brenton The fear of the Lord hates unrighteousness, and insolence, and pride, and the ways of wicked men; and I hate the perverse ways of bad men. BSB BSB: To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.
14 Brenton Counsel and safety are mine: prudence is mine, and strength is mine. BSB BSB: Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength.
15 Brenton By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. BSB BSB: By me kings reign, and rulers enact just laws;
16 Brenton By me nobles become great, and monarchs by me rule over the earth. BSB BSB: By me princes rule, and all nobles who govern justly.
17 Brenton I love those that love me; and they that seek me shall find me . BSB BSB: I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.
18 Brenton Wealth and glory belong to me; yea, abundant possessions and righteousness. BSB BSB: With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and righteousness.
19 Brenton It is better to have my fruit than to have gold and precious stones; and my produce is better than choice silver.BSB BSB: My fruit is better than gold, pure gold, and my harvest surpasses choice silver.
20 Brenton I walk in ways of righteousness, and am conversant with the paths of judgment; BSB BSB: I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
21 Brenton that I may divide substance to them that love me, and may fill their treasures with good things. BSB BSB: bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.
23 Brenton He established me before time was in the beginning, before he made the earth: BSB BSB: From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began.
24 Brenton even before he made the depths; before the fountains of water came forth: BSB BSB: When there were no watery depths, I was brought forth, when no springs were overflowing with water.
25 Brenton before the mountains were settled, and before all hills, he begets me. BSB BSB: Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth,
26 Brenton The Lord made countries and uninhabited tracts , and the highest inhabited parts of the world. BSB BSB: before He made the land or fields, or any of the dust of the earth.
27 Brenton When he prepared the heaven, I was present with him; and when he prepared his throne upon the winds: BSB BSB: I was there when He established the heavens, when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,
28 Brenton and when he strengthened the clouds above; and when he secured the fountains of the earth: BSB BSB: when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth,
29 Brenton and when he strengthened the foundations of the earth: 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 Brenton I was by him, suiting myself to him , I was that wherein he took delight; and daily I rejoiced in his presence continually. BSB BSB: Then I was a skilled craftsman at His side, and His delight day by day, rejoicing always in His presence.
31 Brenton For he rejoiced when he had completed the world, and rejoiced among the children of men. BSB BSB: I was rejoicing in His whole world, delighting together in the sons of men.
32 Brenton Now then, my son, hear me: blessed is the man who shall hearken to me, and the mortal who shall keep my ways; BSB BSB: Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
34 Brenton watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my entrances. BSB BSB: Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway.
35 Brenton For my outgoings are the outgoings of life, and in them is prepared favour from the Lord. BSB BSB: For whoever finds me finds life and obtains the favor of the LORD.
36 Brenton But they that sin against me act wickedly against their own souls: and they that hate me 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.