The Excellence of Wisdom 1 DBY Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding give forth her voice? BSB BSB: Does not wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice?
2 DBY On the top of high places by the way, at the cross-paths she taketh her stand. BSB BSB: On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads she takes her stand.
3 DBY Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud. BSB BSB: Beside the gates to the city, at the entrances she cries out:
4 DBY Unto you, men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of man: BSB BSB: “To you, O men, I call out, and my cry is to the sons of men.
5 DBY O ye simple, understand prudence; and ye foolish, understand sense. BSB BSB: O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding.
6 DBY Hear, for I will speak excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall be right things. BSB BSB: Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right.
7 DBY For my palate shall meditate truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. BSB BSB: For my mouth will speak the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips.
8 DBY All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing tortuous or perverse in them. BSB BSB: All the words of my mouth are righteous; none are crooked or perverse.
9 DBY They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge. BSB BSB: They are all plain to the discerning, and upright to those who find knowledge.
10 DBY Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold: BSB BSB: Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.
11 DBY for wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things that may be desired are not equal to it. BSB BSB: For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her.
12 DBY I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find the knowledge which cometh of reflection. BSB BSB: I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.
13 DBY The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil; pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth do I hate. BSB BSB: To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.
14 DBY Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am intelligence; I have strength. BSB BSB: Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength.
15 DBY By me kings reign, and rulers make just decrees; BSB BSB: By me kings reign, and rulers enact just laws;
16 DBY by me princes rule, and nobles, all the judges of the earth. BSB BSB: By me princes rule, and all nobles who govern justly.
17 DBY I love those that love me; and they that seek me early shall find me. BSB BSB: I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.
18 DBY Riches and honour are with me; durable wealth and righteousness. BSB BSB: With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and righteousness.
19 DBY My fruit is better than fine gold, yea, than pure gold; and my revenue than choice silver. BSB BSB: My fruit is better than gold, pure gold, and my harvest surpasses choice silver.
20 DBY I walk in the path of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: BSB BSB: I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
21 DBY that I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasuries. BSB BSB: bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.
23 DBY I was set up from eternity, from the beginning, before the earth was. BSB BSB: From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began.
24 DBY When there were no depths, I was brought forth, when there were no fountains abounding with water. BSB BSB: When there were no watery depths, I was brought forth, when no springs were overflowing with water.
25 DBY Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth; BSB BSB: Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth,
26 DBY while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world. BSB BSB: before He made the land or fields, or any of the dust of the earth.
27 DBY When he prepared the heavens I was there; when he ordained the circle upon the face of the deep; BSB BSB: I was there when He established the heavens, when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,
28 DBY when he established the skies above, when the fountains of the deep became strong; BSB BSB: when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth,
29 DBY when he imposed on the sea his decree that the waters should not pass his commandment, when he appointed 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 DBY then I was by him his nursling, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; BSB BSB: Then I was a skilled craftsman at His side, and His delight day by day, rejoicing always in His presence.
31 DBY rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth, and my delights were with the sons of men. BSB BSB: I was rejoicing in His whole world, delighting together in the sons of men.
32 DBY And now, sons, hearken unto me, and blessed are they that keep my ways: BSB BSB: Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 DBY hear instruction and be wise, and refuse it not. BSB BSB: Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.
34 DBY Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. BSB BSB: Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway.
35 DBY For whoso findeth me findeth life, and obtaineth favour of Jehovah; BSB BSB: For whoever finds me finds life and obtains the favor of the LORD.
36 DBY but he that sinneth against me doeth violence to his own soul: all 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.