Proverbs 8:1–7

Does not wisdom call?

Does not understanding raise her voice?

On the heights beside the way,

at the crossroads she takes her stand;

beside the gates in front of the town,

at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:

“To you, O men, I call,

and my cry is to the children of man.

O simple ones, learn prudence;

O fools, learn sense.

Hear, for I will speak noble things,

and from my lips will come what is right,

for my mouth will utter truth;

wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

Does not wisdom call out?

Does not understanding raise her voice?

At the highest point along the way,

where the paths meet, she takes her stand;

beside the gate leading into the city,

at the entrance, she cries aloud:

“To you, O people, I call out;

I raise my voice to all mankind.

You who are simple, gain prudence;

you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.

Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say;

I open my lips to speak what is right.

My mouth speaks what is true,

for my lips detest wickedness.

Doesn’t wisdom call out?

Doesn’t understanding make her voice heard?

At the heights overlooking the road,

at the crossroads, she takes her stand.

Beside the gates leading into the city,

at the main entrance, she cries out:

“People, I call out to you;

my cry is to the children of Adam.

Learn to be shrewd, you who are inexperienced;

develop common sense, you who are foolish.

Listen, for I speak of noble things,

and what my lips say is right.

For my mouth tells the truth,

and wickedness is detestable to my lips.

Listen as Wisdom calls out!

Hear as understanding raises her voice!

On the hilltop along the road,

she takes her stand at the crossroads.

By the gates at the entrance to the town,

on the road leading in, she cries aloud,

“I call to you, to all of you!

I raise my voice to all people.

You simple people, use good judgment.

You foolish people, show some understanding.

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

Everything I say is right,

for I speak the truth

and detest every kind of deception.

Does not wisdom call,

and understanding raise its voice?

Atop the heights beside the road,

at the crossroads she stands.

Beside gates, before towns,

at the entrance of doors, she cries out:

“To you, O people, I call,

and my cry is to the children of humankind.

Learn prudence, O simple ones;

fools, learn intelligence.

Listen! For noble things I will speak,

and upright things from the opening of my lips.

My mouth will utter truth,

and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

Doth not wisdom cry?

And understanding put forth her voice?

She standeth in the top of high places, by the way

In the places of the paths.

She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city,

At the coming in at the doors.

Unto you, O men, I call;

And my voice is to the sons of man.

O ye simple, understand wisdom:

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

Hear; for I will speak of excellent things;

And the opening of my lips shall be right things.

For my mouth shall speak truth;

And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.