The Excellence of Wisdom 1 UEB Does not Wisdom call out? Does not Understanding raise her voice? BSB BSB: Does not wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice?
2 UEB On the hilltops beside the road, at the crossroads, Wisdom has taken her stand. BSB BSB: On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads she takes her stand.
3 UEB Before the gates at the entrance into the city, at the entrances into the city, she calls out. BSB BSB: Beside the gates to the city, at the entrances she cries out:
4 UEB "It is to you, people, that I call; my voice is for the sons of mankind. BSB BSB: “To you, O men, I call out, and my cry is to the sons of men.
5 UEB You who are naive, learn wisdom; and you who are foolish, you must get an understanding mind. BSB BSB: O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding.
6 UEB Listen, because I will speak of noble things, and when my lips open I will say upright things. BSB BSB: Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right.
7 UEB For my mouth speaks what is trustworthy, and wickedness is disgusting to my lips. BSB BSB: For my mouth will speak the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips.
8 UEB All the words of my mouth are just; in them is nothing twisted or misleading. BSB BSB: All the words of my mouth are righteous; none are crooked or perverse.
9 UEB All of them are straight for the person who understands; my words are upright for those who find knowledge. BSB BSB: They are all plain to the discerning, and upright to those who find knowledge.
10 UEB Acquire my instruction rather than silver; acquire knowledge rather than pure gold. BSB BSB: Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.
11 UEB For Wisdom is better than jewels; no treasure is equal to her. BSB BSB: For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her.
12 UEB I, Wisdom, live with Prudence, and I possess knowledge and discretion. BSB BSB: I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.
13 UEB The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil. I hate pride and arrogance, the evil way, and perverted speech. I hate them. BSB BSB: To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.
14 UEB I have good advice and sound wisdom; I am insight; strength belongs to me. BSB BSB: Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength.
15 UEB By me kings reign, and rulers make laws that are just. BSB BSB: By me kings reign, and rulers enact just laws;
16 UEB By me princes rule, nobles, and all who govern with justice. BSB BSB: By me princes rule, and all nobles who govern justly.
17 UEB I love those who love me, and those who diligently seek me, find me. BSB BSB: I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.
18 UEB With me are riches and honor, lasting wealth and righteousness. BSB BSB: With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and righteousness.
19 UEB My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold; my produce is better than pure silver. BSB BSB: My fruit is better than gold, pure gold, and my harvest surpasses choice silver.
20 UEB I walk in the path of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice. BSB BSB: I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
21 UEB As a result, I make those who love me inherit wealth; I fill up their treasuries. BSB BSB: bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.
23 UEB In ages long ago I was made—from the first, from the beginnings of the earth. BSB BSB: From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began.
24 UEB Before there were oceans, I was given birth— 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 UEB Before the mountains were settled and before the hills, I was born. BSB BSB: Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth,
26 UEB I was born before Yahweh had made the earth or the fields, or even the first dust in the world. BSB BSB: before He made the land or fields, or any of the dust of the earth.
27 UEB I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew a circle on the surface 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 UEB I was there when he established the clouds above and when the springs in the deep became fixed. BSB BSB: when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth,
29 UEB I was there when he made his limit for the sea, so the waters should not spread beyond his command, and when there was set the limit for the foundations 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 UEB I was beside him, as a skilled craftsman; I was his delight day after day, always rejoicing 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 UEB I was rejoicing in his whole world, and my delight was in the sons of mankind. BSB BSB: I was rejoicing in His whole world, delighting together in the sons of men.
32 UEB Now, my sons, listen to me, for those who keep my ways will be blessed. BSB BSB: Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 UEB Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not neglect it. BSB BSB: Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.
34 UEB The one who listens to me will be blessed. He will be watching every day at my doors, waiting beside 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 UEB For whoever finds me, finds life, and he will find the favor of Yahweh. BSB BSB: For whoever finds me finds life and obtains the favor of the LORD.
36 UEB But he who fails, harms his own life; all 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.