The Excellence of Wisdom 1 DRA Doth not wisdom cry aloud, and prudence put forth her voice? BSB BSB: Does not wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice?
2 DRA Standing in the top of the highest places by the way, in the midst of the paths. BSB BSB: On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads she takes her stand.
3 DRA Beside the gates of the city, in the very doors she speaketh, saying: BSB BSB: Beside the gates to the city, at the entrances she cries out:
4 DRA O ye men, to you I call, and my voice is to the sons of men. BSB BSB: “To you, O men, I call out, and my cry is to the sons of men.
5 DRA O little ones, understand subtilty, and ye unwise, take notice. BSB BSB: O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding.
6 DRA Hear, for I will speak of great things: and my lips shall be opened to preach right things. BSB BSB: Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right.
7 DRA My mouth shall meditate truth, and my lips shall hate wickedness. BSB BSB: For my mouth will speak the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips.
8 DRA All my words are just, there is nothing wicked nor perverse in them. BSB BSB: All the words of my mouth are righteous; none are crooked or perverse.
9 DRA They are right to them that understand, and just to them that find knowledge. BSB BSB: They are all plain to the discerning, and upright to those who find knowledge.
10 DRA Receive my instruction, and not money: choose knowledge rather than gold. BSB BSB: Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.
11 DRA For wisdom is better than all the most precious things: and whatsoever may be desired cannot be compared to it. BSB BSB: For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her.
12 DRA I wisdom dwell in counsel, and am present in learned thoughts. BSB BSB: I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.
13 DRA The fear of the Lord hateth evil: I hate arrogance, and pride, and every wicked way, and a mouth with a double tongue. BSB BSB: To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.
14 DRA Counsel and equity is mine, prudence is mine, strength is mine. BSB BSB: Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength.
15 DRA By me kings reign, and lawgivers decree just things, BSB BSB: By me kings reign, and rulers enact just laws;
16 DRA By me princes rule, and the mighty decree justice. BSB BSB: By me princes rule, and all nobles who govern justly.
17 DRA I love them that love me: and they that in the morning early watch for me, shall find me. BSB BSB: I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.
18 DRA With me are riches and glory, glorious riches and justice. BSB BSB: With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and righteousness.
19 DRA For my fruit is better than gold and the precious stone, and my blossoms than choice silver. BSB BSB: My fruit is better than gold, pure gold, and my harvest surpasses choice silver.
20 DRA I walk in the way of justice, in the midst of the paths of judgment, BSB BSB: I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
21 DRA That I may enrich them that love me, and may fill their treasures. BSB BSB: bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.
23 DRA I was set up from eternity, and of old before the earth was made. BSB BSB: From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began.
24 DRA The depths were not as yet, and I was already conceived. neither had the fountains of waters as yet sprung out: BSB BSB: When there were no watery depths, I was brought forth, when no springs were overflowing with water.
25 DRA The mountains with their huge bulk had not as yet been established: before the hills I was brought forth: BSB BSB: Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth,
26 DRA He had not yet made the earth, nor the rivers, nor the poles of the world. BSB BSB: before He made the land or fields, or any of the dust of the earth.
27 DRA When he prepared the heavens, I was present: when with a certain law and compass he enclosed the depths: BSB BSB: I was there when He established the heavens, when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,
28 DRA When he established the sky above, and poised the fountains of waters: BSB BSB: when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth,
29 DRA When he compassed the sea with its bounds, and set a law to the waters that they should not pass their limits: when be balanced 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 DRA I was with him forming all things: and was delighted every day, playing before him at all times; BSB BSB: Then I was a skilled craftsman at His side, and His delight day by day, rejoicing always in His presence.
31 DRA Playing in the world: and my delights were to be with the children of men. BSB BSB: I was rejoicing in His whole world, delighting together in the sons of men.
32 DRA Now therefore, ye children, hear me: 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 DRA Hear instruction and be wise, and refuse it not. BSB BSB: Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.
34 DRA Blessed is the man that heareth me, and that watcheth daily at my gates, and waiteth 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 DRA He that shall find me, shall find life, and shall have salvation from the Lord: BSB BSB: For whoever finds me finds life and obtains the favor of the LORD.
36 DRA But he that shall sin against me, shall hurt his own soul. All 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.