Wisdom’s Call

8 Does not wisdom call out?u

Does not understanding raise her voice?

2 At the highest point along the way,

where the paths meet, she takes her stand;

3 beside the gate leading into the city,

at the entrance, she cries aloud:v

4 “To you, O people, I call out;w

I raise my voice to all mankind.

5 You who are simple,x gain prudence;y

you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.a

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,z

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,a

11 for wisdom is more preciousb than rubies,

and nothing you desire can compare with her.c

12 “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;

I possess knowledge and discretion.d

13 To fear the Lorde is to hate evil;f

I hateg pride and arrogance,

evil behavior and perverse speech.

14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine;

I have insight, I have power.h

15 By me kings reign

and rulersi issue decrees that are just;

16 by me princes govern,j

and nobles—all who rule on earth.b

17 I love those who love me,k

and those who seek me find me.l

18 With me are riches and honor,m

enduring wealth and prosperity.n

19 My fruit is better than fine gold;o

what I yield surpasses choice silver.p

20 I walk in the way of righteousness,q

along the paths of justice,

21 bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me

and making their treasuries full.r

22 “The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works,c,d

before his deeds of old;

23 I was formed long ages ago,

at the very beginning, when the world came to be.

24 When there were no watery depths, I was given birth,

when there were no springs overflowing with water;s

25 before the mountains were settled in place,t

before the hills, I was given birth,u

26 before he made the world or its fields

or any of the dust of the earth.v

27 I was there when he set the heavens in place,w

when he marked out the horizonx on the face of the deep,

28 when he established the clouds abovey

and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,z

29 when he gave the sea its boundarya

so the waters would not overstep his command,b

and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.c

30 Then I was constantlye at his side.d

I was filled with delight day after day,

rejoicing always in his presence,

31 rejoicing in his whole world

and delighting in mankind.e

32 “Now then, my children, listenf to me;

blessed areg those who keep my ways.h

33 Listen to my instruction and be wise;

do not disregard it.

34 Blessed are those who listeni to me,

watching daily at my doors,

waiting at my doorway.

35 For those who find mej find lifek

and receive favor from the Lord.l

36 But those who fail to find me harm themselves;m

all who hate me love death.”n

Invitations of Wisdom and Folly

9 Wisdom has builto her house;

she has set upa its seven pillars.

2 She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;p

she has also set her table.q

3 She has sent out her servants, and she callsr

from the highest point of the city,s

4 “Let all who are simplet come to my house!”

To those who have no senseu she says,

5 “Come,v eat my food

and drink the wine I have mixed.w

6 Leave your simple ways and you will live;x

walk in the way of insight.”y

7 Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults;

whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.z

8 Do not rebuke mockersa or they will hate you;

rebuke the wise and they will love you.b

9 Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;

teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.c

10 The fear of the Lordd is the beginning of wisdom,

and knowledge of the Holy Onee is understanding.f

11 For through wisdomb your days will be many,

and years will be added to your life.g

12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you;

if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.

13 Folly is an unruly woman;h

she is simple and knows nothing.i

14 She sits at the door of her house,

on a seat at the highest point of the city,j

15 calling outk to those who pass by,

who go straight on their way,

16 “Let all who are simple come to my house!”

To those who have no sensel she says,

17 “Stolen water is sweet;

food eaten in secret is delicious!m”

18 But little do they know that the dead are there,

that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.n