Doth not wisdom cry, And understanding put forth her voice?

Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, At the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud:

O ye simple, understand prudence; And, ye fools, be of an understanding heart.

For my mouth shall utter truth; And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

They are all plain to him that understandeth, And right to them that find knowledge.

For wisdom is better than rubies; And all the things that may be desired are not to be compared unto it.

The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil: Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, And the perverse mouth, do I hate.

By me kings reign, And princes decree justice.

I love them that love me; And those that seek me diligently shall find me.

My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; And my revenue than choice silver.

That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, And that I may fill their treasuries.

I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, Before the earth was.

Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills was I brought forth;

When he established the heavens, I was there: When he set a circle upon the face of the deep,

When he gave to the sea its bound, That the waters should not transgress his commandment, When he marked out the foundations of the earth;

Rejoicing in his habitable earth; And my delight was with the sons of men.

Hear instruction, and be wise, And refuse it not.

For whoso findeth me findeth life, And shall obtain favor of Jehovah.

Wisdom hath builded her house; She hath hewn out her seven pillars:

She hath sent forth her maidens; She crieth upon the highest places of the city:

Come, eat ye of my bread, And drink of the wine which I have mingled.

He that correcteth a scoffer getteth to himself reviling; And he that reproveth a wicked man [getteth] himself a blot.

Give [instruction] to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

For by me thy days shall be multiplied, And the years of thy life shall be increased.