The Excellence of Wisdom 1 UST Imagine that there is a woman who represents everything that is wise. Surely such a woman calls out{ to everyone}. Indeed, imagine that this woman represents everything that people should understand. Surely such a woman shouts{ these things to people}. BSB BSB: Does not wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice?
2 UST Imagine that this woman stands at the highest place next to the crowded crossroads{ where everyone can hear her}. BSB BSB: On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads she takes her stand.
3 UST Imagine that this woman shouts loudly beside the gates at the entrance to a city. BSB BSB: Beside the gates to the city, at the entrances she cries out:
4 UST { Imagine that she proclaims:}“I am calling out to all of you! I am speaking to all people! BSB BSB: “To you, O men, I call out, and my cry is to the sons of men.
5 UST You naive people must learn to be prudent. You foolish people must learn how to be discerning. BSB BSB: O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding.
6 UST Listen{ to what I say}, because I will tell you some excellent things. I will speak to you about what is right. BSB BSB: Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right.
7 UST { Listen to what I say} because I speak what is true. I detest speaking what is evil. BSB BSB: For my mouth will speak the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips.
8 UST Everything that I say is honest. I do not say anything that is false or that deceives{ people}. BSB BSB: All the words of my mouth are righteous; none are crooked or perverse.
9 UST Everything that I say is plain for people who understand.{ Everything that I say} is right to people who have become knowledgeable. BSB BSB: They are all plain to the discerning, and upright to those who find knowledge.
10 UST Choose{ to learn} what I instruct you instead of silver. Indeed,{ choose to learn} what you should know instead of the finest gold. BSB BSB: Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.
11 UST { Do this} because being wise is more valuable than having precious jewels. Being wise is more valuable than anything that you can desire. BSB BSB: For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her.
12 UST I am what is wise. I am a close relative to what is prudent. I enable people to know how to decide things intelligently. BSB BSB: I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.
13 UST Everyone who reverently fears Yahweh hates what is evil. I{, what is wise,} hate it when people are proud or arrogant. I hate it when people act wickedly and when people speak perversely. BSB BSB: To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.
14 UST I advise people well and enable them to be truly wise. I am what people need in order to understand how things truly are. I strengthen people. BSB BSB: Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength.
15 UST I enable kings to rule{ well}.{ I enable} rulers to make righteous laws. BSB BSB: By me kings reign, and rulers enact just laws;
16 UST I enable princes and nobles to govern{ well}.{ I enable} every royal official who judges righteously{ to do so}. BSB BSB: By me princes rule, and all nobles who govern justly.
17 UST { I am what is wise, and} I benefit anyone who loves me. Anyone who earnestly tries to become wise will succeed. BSB BSB: I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.
18 UST I enable people to become rich and I cause people to honor those people.{ I enable people to have} riches that will last and{ I enable people to become} righteous. BSB BSB: With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and righteousness.
19 UST What I can give people is more valuable than even the purest gold and the best silver. BSB BSB: My fruit is better than gold, pure gold, and my harvest surpasses choice silver.
20 UST I{ always} do what is righteous and just BSB BSB: I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
21 UST in order to give property to people who love me. I will fill up the places where they store valuable items. BSB BSB: bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.
23 UST Yahweh established me a very long time ago— at the very beginning, before the world existed. BSB BSB: From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began.
24 UST Yahweh revealed me before the oceans existed and 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 UST Yahweh revealed me before he made the mountains{ and} before{ he made} the hills. BSB BSB: Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth,
26 UST { Yahweh revealed me} before he made the land or the fields or the first particles of dirt on the earth. BSB BSB: before He made the land or fields, or any of the dust of the earth.
27 UST I was there when Yahweh made the sky,{ and} when he made the boundary between the sky and the ocean’ s surface. BSB BSB: I was there when He established the heavens, when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,
28 UST { I was there} when Yahweh made the clouds above{ the earth},{ and} when he made the springs flow at the bottom of the ocean. BSB BSB: when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth,
29 UST { I was there} when Yahweh set boundaries for the seas, so that the water{ in the seas} would not go past the boundaries that he commanded.{ I was there} when Yahweh made the parts supporting 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 UST At that time I was{ like} someone who was beside Yahweh, skillfully helping him to create{ everything}. I made him happy every day. I was always rejoicing 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 UST { I was} rejoicing in the whole world that Yahweh had made. I was also happy with the people{ he had made}. BSB BSB: I was rejoicing in His whole world, delighting together in the sons of men.
32 UST So now, children, pay attention to what I say!{ Do this} because anyone who obeys my teachings will be happy. BSB BSB: Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 UST Listen to what I teach{ you}, so that you will become wise. Think about what I teach you! BSB BSB: Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.
34 UST People who listen to me will be happy. People who are as eager to listen to me as if they were waiting{ for me} at the door of my house every day and watching for me to come out{ will be happy}. BSB BSB: Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway.
35 UST { This is true} because people who learn to be wise will live{ well}, and Yahweh will approve of them. BSB BSB: For whoever finds me finds life and obtains the favor of the LORD.
36 UST But those who refuse to be wise hurt themselves. All those who hate to be wise{ act like they are people who} would love to die.” 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.