4 “To you, O people, I call out;

I raise my voice to all mankind.

5 You who are simple, gain prudence;

you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.

6 Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say;

I open my lips to speak what is right.

7 My mouth speaks what is true,

for my lips detest wickedness.

8 All the words of my mouth are just;

none of them is crooked or perverse.

9 To the discerning all of them are right;

they are upright to those who have found knowledge.

10 Choose my instruction instead of silver,

knowledge rather than choice gold,

11 for wisdom is more precious than rubies,

and nothing you desire can compare with her.

4 “To you, O men, I call,

and my cry is to the children of man.

5 O simple ones, learn prudence;

O fools, learn sense.

6 Hear, for I will speak noble things,

and from my lips will come what is right,

7 for my mouth will utter truth;

wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

8 All the words of my mouth are righteous;

there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.

9 They are all straight to him who understands,

and right to those who find knowledge.

10 Take my instruction instead of silver,

and knowledge rather than choice gold,

11 for wisdom is better than jewels,

and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

4 Unto you, O men, I call;

And my voice is to the sons of man.

5 O ye simple, understand wisdom:

And, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things;

And the opening of my lips shall be right things.

7 For my mouth shall speak truth;

And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness;

There is nothing froward or perverse in them.

9 They are all plain to him that understandeth,

And right to them that find knowledge.

10 Receive my instruction, and not silver;

And knowledge rather than choice gold.

11 For wisdom is better than rubies;

And all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

4 “I call to you, to all of you!

I raise my voice to all people.

5 You simple people, use good judgment.

You foolish people, show some understanding.

6 Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you.

Everything I say is right,

7 for I speak the truth

and detest every kind of deception.

8 My advice is wholesome.

There is nothing devious or crooked in it.

9 My words are plain to anyone with understanding,

clear to those with knowledge.

10 Choose my instruction rather than silver,

and knowledge rather than pure gold.

11 For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies.

Nothing you desire can compare with it.

4 “To you, O men, I call,

And my voice is to the sons of men.

5 O you simple ones, understand prudence,

And you fools, be of an understanding heart.

6 Listen, for I will speak of excellent things,

And from the opening of my lips will come right things;

7 For my mouth will speak truth;

Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

8 All the words of my mouth are with righteousness;

Nothing crooked or perverse is in them.

9 They are all plain to him who understands,

And right to those who find knowledge.

10 Receive my instruction, and not silver,

And knowledge rather than choice gold;

11 For wisdom is better than rubies,

And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.

4 “Listen, everyone, I’m calling out to you;

I am shouting to all people.

5 You who are uneducated, seek wisdom.

You who are foolish, get understanding.

6 Listen, because I have important things to say,

and what I tell you is right.

7 What I say is true,

I refuse to speak evil.

8 Everything I say is honest;

nothing I say is crooked or false.

9 People with good sense know what I say is true;

and those with knowledge know my words are right.

10 Choose my teachings instead of silver,

and knowledge rather than the finest gold.

11 Wisdom is more precious than rubies.

Nothing you could want is equal to it.

4 Unto you, O men, I call;

And my voice is to the sons of men.

5 O ye simple, understand prudence;

And, ye fools, be of an understanding heart.

6 Hear, for I will speak excellent things;

And the opening of my lips shall be right things.

7 For my mouth shall utter truth;

And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness;

There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.

9 They are all plain to him that understandeth,

And right to them that find knowledge.

10 Receive my instruction, and not silver;

And knowledge rather than choice gold.

11 For wisdom is better than rubies;

And all the things that may be desired are not to be compared unto it.

4 Unto you, men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of man: 5 O ye simple, understand prudence; and ye foolish, understand sense. 6 Hear, for I will speak excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall be right things. 7 For my palate shall meditate truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing tortuous or perverse in them. 9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge. 10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold: 11 for wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things that may be desired are not equal to it.

4 “I am calling to all of you, 

and my appeal is to all people. 

5 You gullible people, learn how to be sensible. 

You fools, get a heart that has understanding. 

6 Listen! I am speaking about noble things, 

and my lips will say what is right. 

7 My mouth expresses the truth, 

and wickedness is disgusting to my lips. 

8 Everything I say is fair, 

and there is nothing twisted or crooked in it. 

9 All of it is clear to a person who has understanding 

and right to those who have acquired knowledge. 

10 Take my discipline, not silver, 

and my knowledge rather than fine gold, 

11 because wisdom is better than jewels. 

Nothing you desire can equal it. 

4 “People, I call out to you;

my cry is to mankind.

5 Learn to be shrewd, you who are inexperienced;

develop common sense, you who are foolish.

6 Listen, for I speak of noble things,

and what my lips say is right.

7 For my mouth tells the truth,

and wickedness is detestable to my lips.

8 All the words of my mouth are righteous;

none of them are deceptive or perverse.

9 All of them are clear to the perceptive,

and right to those who discover knowledge.

10 Accept my instruction instead of silver,

and knowledge rather than pure gold.

11 For wisdom is better than jewels,

and nothing desirable can compare with it.

4 “To you, O people, I call,

and my cry is to the children of humankind.

5 Learn prudence, O simple ones;

fools, learn intelligence.

6 Listen! For noble things I will speak,

and upright things from the opening of my lips.

7 My mouth will utter truth,

and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

8 All sayings of my mouth are in righteousness;

none of them are twisted and crooked.

9 All of them are straight to him who understands,

and upright to those who find knowledge.

10 Take my teaching and not silver;

may you choose knowledge rather than choice gold.

11 For wisdom is better than jewels,

and all desires shall not compare with her.

4 She says, “Men, I call out to you.

I raise my voice to all human beings.

5 You who are childish, get some good sense.

You who are foolish, gain understanding.

6 Listen! I have worthy things to say.

I open my lips to speak what is right.

7 My mouth speaks what is true.

My lips hate evil.

8 All the words of my mouth are honest.

None of them is twisted or sinful.

9 To those who have understanding, all my words are right.

To those who have knowledge, they are true.

10 Choose my teaching instead of silver.

Choose knowledge rather than fine gold.

11 Wisdom is worth more than rubies.

Nothing you want can compare with her.

4 “To you, O men, I call,

And my voice is to the sons of men.

5 “O naive ones, understand prudence;

And, O fools, understand wisdom.

6 “Listen, for I will speak noble things;

And the opening of my lips will reveal right things.

7 “For my mouth will utter truth;

And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

8 “All the utterances of my mouth are in righteousness;

There is nothing crooked or perverted in them.

9 “They are all straightforward to him who understands,

And right to those who find knowledge.

10 “Take my instruction and not silver,

And knowledge rather than choicest gold.

11 “For wisdom is better than jewels;

And all desirable things cannot compare with her.