The Excellence of Wisdom 1 UDB Listen to Wisdom calling; her voice sounds like that of a woman who shouts in the public square. Understanding raises her voice; she sounds like a woman who calls out to be heard. BSB BSB: Does not wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice?
2 UDB On the top of the hills and where the roads come together, there Wisdom stands. BSB BSB: On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads she takes her stand.
3 UDB Wisdom also stands at the gates at the entrance to the city, and she calls out with a loud voice. Wisdom says: BSB BSB: Beside the gates to the city, at the entrances she cries out:
4 UDB "I am calling out to everyone; I am shouting to all people! BSB BSB: “To you, O men, I call out, and my cry is to the sons of men.
5 UDB You people who have no training, you must be taught how to live; you must learn so that you can understand completely. BSB BSB: O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding.
6 UDB Listen to me because I will explain to you some excellent things. I can teach you about what is right BSB BSB: Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right.
7 UDB because I speak what is true; I detest evil things so much, I hate to even speak about them. BSB BSB: For my mouth will speak the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips.
8 UDB Everything that I say is right; I do not say anything that changes the meaning of what is good or that leads people away from it. BSB BSB: All the words of my mouth are righteous; none are crooked or perverse.
9 UDB My words give good advice to the one who understands the meaning of what I say; those who have learned to tell good from evil will easily know that my words are right. BSB BSB: They are all plain to the discerning, and upright to those who find knowledge.
10 UDB Choose what I teach you instead of trying to get much silver, and choose the knowledge I will show you, for it is more valuable than gold. BSB BSB: Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.
11 UDB For I, Wisdom, am more precious than jewels; nothing is as valuable for you as I am. BSB BSB: For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her.
12 UDB I, Wisdom, live with Common Sense; we are like two people living in the same house. I know many things and I act carefully. BSB BSB: I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.
13 UDB Everyone who honors Yahweh hates what is evil. I am Wisdom, and I hate it when people are proud, when they think they are more important than others. I hate it when people act in evil ways and when they tell lies. BSB BSB: To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.
14 UDB I give good advice and I have the best wisdom; I have true understanding about the nature of things and I have great strength. BSB BSB: Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength.
15 UDB When kings are wise, they rule well; and when rulers are wise, they make laws that are just. BSB BSB: By me kings reign, and rulers enact just laws;
16 UDB By me princes rule, and also noblemen and all who govern with justice. BSB BSB: By me princes rule, and all nobles who govern justly.
17 UDB I am Wisdom, and I love all who love me; those who work hard to find me will find me. BSB BSB: I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.
18 UDB These people will have lasting riches and they will live right because I have riches and honor with me. BSB BSB: With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and righteousness.
19 UDB What I can give people is more valuable than fine gold and the best silver. BSB BSB: My fruit is better than gold, pure gold, and my harvest surpasses choice silver.
20 UDB I always do what is right and just. BSB BSB: I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
21 UDB I give wealth to those who love me and I fill up their treasuries. BSB BSB: bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.
23 UDB He made me long ago—at the very first, at the beginning of the earth. BSB BSB: From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began.
24 UDB I was born before the oceans were created, when there were no springs from which water flowed. BSB BSB: When there were no watery depths, I was brought forth, when no springs were overflowing with water.
25 UDB I was born before the hills and mountains were set in place. BSB BSB: Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth,
26 UDB I am Wisdom and I was born before Yahweh made the earth; before he made the tiny particles of dust in the earth, I was there. BSB BSB: before He made the land or fields, or any of the dust of the earth.
27 UDB I was there when Yahweh put the heavens where they are, on the day when he marked on the ocean's surface how far a person at sea can see in every direction. BSB BSB: I was there when He established the heavens, when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,
28 UDB I was there when Yahweh put the clouds above the earth, and when he made the springs at the bottom of the sea to give water to the oceans. BSB BSB: when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth,
29 UDB I was there when he fixed a boundary for the seas, so that the water in the seas would not go past those boundaries, and when he marked out the limits of the dry 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 UDB I was at Yahweh's side as his master craftsman; I made him happy every day, and I always rejoiced 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 UDB I was delighted with the whole world he created; I was happy with the people he brought into existence, too. BSB BSB: I was rejoicing in His whole world, delighting together in the sons of men.
32 UDB So, you who are my children, listen to me. How fortunate are those who live as I live. BSB BSB: Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 UDB Listen to what I teach you and you will become wise. Do not reject what I have taught you. BSB BSB: Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.
34 UDB How fortunate are those who listen to me, those who wait for me outside my house every day. BSB BSB: Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway.
35 UDB Those who find me will find life, and Yahweh will be pleased with them. BSB BSB: For whoever finds me finds life and obtains the favor of the LORD.
36 UDB But those who do not find me, they hurt themselves. All those who 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.