CLV(i)
1 Is not wisdom calling And comprehension giving forth her voice?
2 At the summit of the heights upon the way, The meeting house of the tracks, there she is stationed."
3 At the side of the gates, at the edge of the town, The entry of the portals, there she makes her appeal."
4 To you, O men, I am calling And raising my voice to the sons of humanity;"
5 To the simple:Understand prudence; And to the stupid:Understand heart wisdom.
6 Hearken, for I am speaking correct words, And the opening of my lips reveals equities."
7 For my palate is soliloquizing truth, While wickedness is an abhorrence to my lips."
8 In righteousness are all the sayings of my mouth; There is nothing twisted or perverse in them.
9 All of them are correct to the understanding one, And upright to those who find knowledge."
10 Take in my admonition, and do not prefer silver, And take knowledge rather than choice, fine gold."
11 For wisdom is better than rubies, And all delights are not equal to her."
12 I, wisdom, I tabernacle with prudence, And I keep hold of knowledge and foresight."
13 The fear of Yahweh means to hate evil; Pride and pomp and the way of evil And a mouth of duplicity I hate.
14 Counsel and sagacity are mine; I have understanding; mastery is mine.
15 By me kings reign, And chancellors make statutes of righteousness."
16 By me chiefs control affairs, And patrons, all who are judging on the earth."
17 I love those who love me, And those who seek me early find me."
18 Riches and glory are with me, Boundless wealth and righteousness."
19 My fruit is better than fine gold, even more than glittering gold, And my yield is more than choice silver."
20 I walk in the path of righteousness, In the midst of the tracks of right judgment,
21 To allot prosperity to those loving me, So that I fill their treasures."
22 Yahweh Himself acquired me as the beginning of His way; Preceeding His deeds of yore.
23 From the eon was I inaugurated, From the beginning, preceeding the earth;"
24 When there were no abysses I was travailed, When there were no springs teeming with water."
25 Ere the mountains were sunk in place, Before the hills, I was travailed,
26 When He had not yet made the earth and its open places, Or the beginnings of soil for the habitance."
27 When He established the heavens I was there, When He delineated the horizon on the face of the abyss,
28 When He made the sky clouds firm above, When He set the springs of the abyss with strength,
29 When He established for the sea its statutory limit, So that the waters may not pass beyond His bidding, When He delineated the foundations of the earth."
30 Then I was beside Him as His foster child, And I was filled with bliss day by day, Gamboling before Him all the time,
31 Gamboling in the habitance of His earth, And my bliss was in the sons of humanity."
32 Now then, my sons, hearken to me; Happy are those who keep my ways."
33 Hearken to my admonition, and be wise; Do not renounce it."
34 Happy is the man who hearkens to me, Being alert at my doors day by day, Keeping watch at the jambs of my portals."
35 For whoever finds me will find life And shall gain hold of benevolence from Yahweh.
36 Yet whoever misses me wrongs his soul; All who hate me love death.