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Doth not wisdom call? And understanding give forth her voice?

At the head of high places by the way, Between the paths she hath stood,

At the side of the gates, at the mouth of the city, The entrance of the openings, she crieth aloud,

`Unto you, O men, I call, And my voice [is] unto the sons of men.

Understand, ye simple ones, prudence, And ye fools, understand the heart,

Hearken, for noble things I speak, And the opening of my lips [is] uprightness.

For truth doth my mouth utter, And an abomination to my lips [is] wickedness.

In righteousness [are] all the sayings of my mouth, Nothing in them is froward and perverse.

All of them [are] plain to the intelligent, And upright to those finding knowledge.

10 Receive my instruction, and not silver, And knowledge rather than choice gold.

11 For better [is] wisdom than rubies, Yea, all delights are not comparable with it.

12 I, wisdom, have dwelt with prudence, And a knowledge of devices I find out.

13 The fear of Jehovah [is] to hate evil; Pride, and arrogance, and an evil way, And a froward mouth, I have hated.

14 Mine [is] counsel and substance, I [am] understanding, I have might.

15 By me kings reign, and princes decree righteousness,

16 By me do chiefs rule, and nobles, All judges of the earth.

17 I love those loving me, And those seeking me earnestly do find me.

18 Wealth and honour [are] with me, Lasting substance and righteousness.

19 Better [is] my fruit than gold, even fine gold, And mine increase than choice silver.

20 In a path of righteousness I cause to walk, In midst of paths of judgment,

21 To cause my lovers to inherit substance, Yea, their treasures I fill.

22 Jehovah possessed me -- the beginning of His way, Before His works since then.

23 From the age I was anointed, from the first, From former states of the earth.

24 In there being no depths, I was brought forth, In there being no fountains heavy [with] waters,

25 Before mountains were sunk, Before heights, I was brought forth.

26 While He had not made the earth, and out-places, And the top of the dusts of the world.

27 In His preparing the heavens I [am] there, In His decreeing a circle on the face of the deep,

28 In His strengthening clouds above, In His making strong fountains of the deep,

29 In His setting for the sea its limit, And the waters transgress not His command, In His decreeing the foundations of earth,

30 Then I am near Him, a workman, And I am a delight -- day by day. Rejoicing before Him at all times,

31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth, And my delights [are] with the sons of men.

32 And now, ye sons, hearken to me, Yea, happy are they who keep my ways.

33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and slight not.

34 O the happiness of the man hearkening to me, To watch at my doors day by day, To watch at the door-posts of my entrance.

35 For whoso is finding me, hath found life, And bringeth out good-will from Jehovah.

36 And whoso is missing me, is wronging his soul, All hating me have loved death!

Wisdom hath builded her house, She hath hewn out her pillars -- seven.

She hath slaughtered her slaughter, She hath mingled her wine, Yea, she hath arranged her table.

She hath sent forth her damsels, She crieth on the tops of the high places of the city:

`Who [is] simple? let him turn aside hither.' Whoso lacketh heart: she hath said to him,

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

Forsake ye, the simple, and live, And be happy in the way of understanding.

The instructor of a scorner Is receiving for it -- shame, And a reprover of the wicked -- his blemish.

Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee, Give reproof to the wise, and he loveth thee.

Give to the wise, and he is wiser still, Make known to the righteous, And he increaseth learning.

10 The commencement of wisdom [is] the fear of Jehovah, And a knowledge of the Holy Ones [is] understanding.

11 For by me do thy days multiply, And added to thee are years of life.

12 If thou hast been wise, thou hast been wise for thyself, And thou hast scorned -- thyself bearest [it].

13 A foolish woman [is] noisy, Simple, and hath not known what.

14 And she hath sat at the opening of her house, On a throne -- the high places of the city,

15 To call to those passing by the way, Who are going straight [on] their paths.

16 `Who [is] simple? let him turn aside hither.' And whoso lacketh heart -- she said to him,

17 `Stolen waters are sweet, And hidden bread is pleasant.'

18 And he hath not known that Rephaim [are] there, In deep places of Sheol her invited ones!

10 Proverbs of Solomon. A wise son causeth a father to rejoice, And a foolish son [is] an affliction to his mother.

Treasures of wickedness profit not, And righteousness delivereth from death.

Jehovah causeth not the soul of the righteous to hunger, And the desire of the wicked He thrusteth away.

Poor [is] he who is working -- a slothful hand, And the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

Whoso is gathering in summer [is] a wise son, Whoso is sleeping in harvest [is] a son causing shame.

Blessings [are] for the head of the righteous, And the mouth of the wicked cover doth violence.

The remembrance of the righteous [is] for a blessing, And the name of the wicked doth rot.

The wise in heart accepteth commands, And a talkative fool kicketh.

Whoso is walking in integrity walketh confidently, And whoso is perverting his ways is known.

10 Whoso is winking the eye giveth grief, And a talkative fool kicketh.

11 A fountain of life [is] the mouth of the righteous, And the mouth of the wicked cover doth violence.

12 Hatred awaketh contentions, And over all transgressions love covereth.

13 In the lips of the intelligent is wisdom found, And a rod [is] for the back of him who is lacking understanding.

14 The wise lay up knowledge, and the mouth of a fool [is] near ruin.

15 The wealth of the rich [is] his strong city, The ruin of the poor [is] their poverty.

16 The wage of the righteous [is] for life, The increase of the wicked for sin.

17 A traveller to life [is] he who is keeping instruction, And whoso is forsaking rebuke is erring.

18 Whoso is covering hatred with lying lips, And whoso is bringing out an evil report is a fool.

19 In the abundance of words transgression ceaseth not, And whoso is restraining his lips [is] wise.

20 The tongue of the righteous [is] chosen silver, The heart of the wicked -- as a little thing.

21 The lips of the righteous delight many, And fools for lack of heart die.

22 The blessing of Jehovah -- it maketh rich, And He addeth no grief with it.

23 To execute inventions [is] as play to a fool, And wisdom to a man of understanding.

24 The feared thing of the wicked it meeteth him, And the desire of the righteous is given.

25 As the passing by of a hurricane, So the wicked is not, And the righteous is a foundation age-during.

26 As vinegar to the teeth, And as smoke to the eyes, So [is] the slothful to those sending him.

27 The fear of Jehovah addeth days, And the years of the wicked are shortened.

28 The hope of the righteous [is] joyful, And the expectation of the wicked perisheth.

29 The way of Jehovah [is] strength to the perfect, And ruin to workers of iniquity.

30 The righteous to the age is not moved, And the wicked inhabit not the earth.

31 The mouth of the righteous uttereth wisdom, And the tongue of frowardness is cut out.

32 The lips of the righteous know a pleasing thing, And the mouth of the wicked perverseness!

11 Balances of deceit [are] an abomination to Jehovah, And a perfect weight [is] His delight.

Pride hath come, and shame cometh, And with the lowly [is] wisdom.

The integrity of the upright leadeth them, And the perverseness of the treacherous destroyeth them.

Wealth profiteth not in a day of wrath, And righteousness delivereth from death.

The righteousness of the perfect maketh right his way, And by his wickedness doth the wicked fall.

The righteousness of the upright delivereth them, And in mischief the treacherous are captured.

In the death of a wicked man, hope perisheth, And the expectation of the iniquitous hath been lost.

The righteous from distress is drawn out, And the wicked goeth in instead of him.

With the mouth a hypocrite corrupteth his friend, And by knowledge the righteous are drawn out.

10 In the good of the righteous a city exulteth, And in the destruction of the wicked [is] singing.

11 By the blessing of the upright is a city exalted, And by the mouth of the wicked thrown down.

12 Whoso is despising his neighbour lacketh heart, And a man of understanding keepeth silence.

13 A busybody is revealing secret counsel, And the faithful of spirit is covering the matter.

14 Without counsels do a people fall, And deliverance [is] in a multitude of counsellors.

15 Evil [one] suffereth when he hath been surety [for] a stranger, And whoso is hating suretyship is confident.

16 A gracious woman retaineth honour, And terrible [men] retain riches.

17 A kind man is rewarding his own soul, And the fierce is troubling his own flesh.

18 The wicked is getting a lying wage, And whoso is sowing righteousness -- a true reward.

19 Rightly [is] righteousness for life, And whoso is pursuing evil -- for his own death.

20 An abomination to Jehovah [are] the perverse of heart, And the perfect of the way [are] His delight.

21 Hand to hand, the wicked is not acquitted, And the seed of the righteous hath escaped.

22 A ring of gold in the nose of a sow -- A fair woman and stubborn of behaviour.

23 The desire of the righteous [is] only good, The hope of the wicked [is] transgression.

24 There is who is scattering, and yet is increased, And who is keeping back from uprightness, only to want.

25 A liberal soul is made fat, And whoso is watering, he also is watered.

26 Whoso is withholding corn, the people execrate him, And a blessing [is] for the head of him who is selling.

27 Whoso is earnestly seeking good Seeketh a pleasing thing, And whoso is seeking evil -- it meeteth him.

28 Whoso is confident in his wealth he falleth, And as a leaf, the righteous flourish.

29 Whoso is troubling his own house inheriteth wind, And a servant [is] the fool to the wise of heart.

30 The fruit of the righteous [is] a tree of life, And whoso is taking souls [is] wise.

31 Lo, the righteous in the earth is recompensed, Surely also the wicked and the sinner!

Wisdom’s Call

Does not wisdom call out?(A)
    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:(B)
“To you, O people, I call out;(C)
    I raise my voice to all mankind.
You who are simple,(D) gain prudence;(E)
    you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.[a]
Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say;
    I open my lips to speak what is right.
My mouth speaks what is true,(F)
    for my lips detest wickedness.
All the words of my mouth are just;
    none of them is crooked or perverse.
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,(G)
11 for wisdom is more precious(H) than rubies,
    and nothing you desire can compare with her.(I)

12 “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
    I possess knowledge and discretion.(J)
13 To fear the Lord(K) is to hate evil;(L)
    I hate(M) pride and arrogance,
    evil behavior and perverse speech.
14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
    I have insight, I have power.(N)
15 By me kings reign
    and rulers(O) issue decrees that are just;
16 by me princes govern,(P)
    and nobles—all who rule on earth.[b]
17 I love those who love me,(Q)
    and those who seek me find me.(R)
18 With me are riches and honor,(S)
    enduring wealth and prosperity.(T)
19 My fruit is better than fine gold;(U)
    what I yield surpasses choice silver.(V)
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,(W)
    along the paths of justice,
21 bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me
    and making their treasuries full.(X)

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;(Y)
25 before the mountains were settled in place,(Z)
    before the hills, I was given birth,(AA)
26 before he made the world or its fields
    or any of the dust of the earth.(AB)
27 I was there when he set the heavens in place,(AC)
    when he marked out the horizon(AD) on the face of the deep,
28 when he established the clouds above(AE)
    and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,(AF)
29 when he gave the sea its boundary(AG)
    so the waters would not overstep his command,(AH)
and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.(AI)
30     Then I was constantly[e] at his side.(AJ)
I was filled with delight day after day,
    rejoicing always in his presence,
31 rejoicing in his whole world
    and delighting in mankind.(AK)

32 “Now then, my children, listen(AL) to me;
    blessed are(AM) those who keep my ways.(AN)
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise;
    do not disregard it.
34 Blessed are those who listen(AO) to me,
    watching daily at my doors,
    waiting at my doorway.
35 For those who find me(AP) find life(AQ)
    and receive favor from the Lord.(AR)
36 But those who fail to find me harm themselves;(AS)
    all who hate me love death.”(AT)

Invitations of Wisdom and Folly

Wisdom has built(AU) her house;
    she has set up[f] its seven pillars.
She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;(AV)
    she has also set her table.(AW)
She has sent out her servants, and she calls(AX)
    from the highest point of the city,(AY)
    “Let all who are simple(AZ) come to my house!”
To those who have no sense(BA) she says,
    “Come,(BB) eat my food
    and drink the wine I have mixed.(BC)
Leave your simple ways and you will live;(BD)
    walk in the way of insight.”(BE)

Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults;
    whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.(BF)
Do not rebuke mockers(BG) or they will hate you;
    rebuke the wise and they will love you.(BH)
Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;
    teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.(BI)

10 The fear of the Lord(BJ) is the beginning of wisdom,
    and knowledge of the Holy One(BK) is understanding.(BL)
11 For through wisdom[g] your days will be many,
    and years will be added to your life.(BM)
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;(BN)
    she is simple and knows nothing.(BO)
14 She sits at the door of her house,
    on a seat at the highest point of the city,(BP)
15 calling out(BQ) 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 sense(BR) she says,
17     “Stolen water is sweet;
    food eaten in secret is delicious!(BS)
18 But little do they know that the dead are there,
    that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.(BT)

Proverbs of Solomon

10 The proverbs(BU) of Solomon:(BV)

A wise son brings joy to his father,(BW)
    but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value,(BX)
    but righteousness delivers from death.(BY)

The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry,(BZ)
    but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.(CA)

Lazy hands make for poverty,(CB)
    but diligent hands bring wealth.(CC)

He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son,
    but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.(CD)

Blessings crown the head of the righteous,
    but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.[h](CE)

The name of the righteous(CF) is used in blessings,[i]
    but the name of the wicked(CG) will rot.(CH)

The wise in heart accept commands,
    but a chattering fool comes to ruin.(CI)

Whoever walks in integrity(CJ) walks securely,(CK)
    but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.(CL)

10 Whoever winks maliciously(CM) causes grief,
    and a chattering fool comes to ruin.

11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,(CN)
    but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.(CO)

12 Hatred stirs up conflict,
    but love covers over all wrongs.(CP)

13 Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,(CQ)
    but a rod is for the back of one who has no sense.(CR)

14 The wise store up knowledge,(CS)
    but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.(CT)

15 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city,(CU)
    but poverty is the ruin of the poor.(CV)

16 The wages of the righteous is life,(CW)
    but the earnings of the wicked are sin and death.(CX)

17 Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,(CY)
    but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

18 Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips(CZ)
    and spreads slander is a fool.

19 Sin is not ended by multiplying words,
    but the prudent hold their tongues.(DA)

20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver,
    but the heart of the wicked is of little value.

21 The lips of the righteous nourish many,
    but fools die for lack of sense.(DB)

22 The blessing of the Lord(DC) brings wealth,(DD)
    without painful toil for it.(DE)

23 A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes,(DF)
    but a person of understanding delights in wisdom.

24 What the wicked dread(DG) will overtake them;(DH)
    what the righteous desire will be granted.(DI)

25 When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone,
    but the righteous stand firm(DJ) forever.(DK)

26 As vinegar to the teeth and smoke(DL) to the eyes,
    so are sluggards to those who send them.(DM)

27 The fear of the Lord adds length to life,(DN)
    but the years of the wicked are cut short.(DO)

28 The prospect of the righteous is joy,
    but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.(DP)

29 The way of the Lord is a refuge for the blameless,
    but it is the ruin of those who do evil.(DQ)

30 The righteous will never be uprooted,
    but the wicked will not remain in the land.(DR)

31 From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom,(DS)
    but a perverse tongue(DT) will be silenced.

32 The lips of the righteous know what finds favor,(DU)
    but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.(DV)

11 The Lord detests dishonest scales,(DW)
    but accurate weights find favor with him.(DX)

When pride comes, then comes disgrace,(DY)
    but with humility comes wisdom.(DZ)

The integrity of the upright guides them,
    but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.(EA)

Wealth(EB) is worthless in the day of wrath,(EC)
    but righteousness delivers from death.(ED)

The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight,(EE)
    but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.(EF)

The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
    but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.(EG)

Hopes placed in mortals die with them;(EH)
    all the promise of[j] their power comes to nothing.(EI)

The righteous person is rescued from trouble,
    and it falls on the wicked instead.(EJ)

With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors,
    but through knowledge the righteous escape.(EK)

10 When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices;(EL)
    when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.(EM)

11 Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,(EN)
    but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.(EO)

12 Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense,(EP)
    but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.(EQ)

13 A gossip betrays a confidence,(ER)
    but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.(ES)

14 For lack of guidance a nation falls,(ET)
    but victory is won through many advisers.(EU)

15 Whoever puts up security(EV) for a stranger will surely suffer,
    but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.(EW)

16 A kindhearted woman gains honor,(EX)
    but ruthless men gain only wealth.

17 Those who are kind benefit themselves,
    but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.

18 A wicked person earns deceptive wages,
    but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.(EY)

19 Truly the righteous attain life,(EZ)
    but whoever pursues evil finds death.(FA)

20 The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse,(FB)
    but he delights(FC) in those whose ways are blameless.(FD)

21 Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished,
    but those who are righteous will go free.(FE)

22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
    is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.

23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
    but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.

24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
    another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

25 A generous(FF) person will prosper;
    whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.(FG)

26 People curse the one who hoards grain,
    but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.

27 Whoever seeks good finds favor,
    but evil comes to one who searches for it.(FH)

28 Those who trust in their riches will fall,(FI)
    but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.(FJ)

29 Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise.(FK)

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,(FL)
    and the one who is wise saves lives.

31 If the righteous receive their due(FM) on earth,
    how much more the ungodly and the sinner!

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 8:5 Septuagint; Hebrew foolish, instruct your minds
  2. Proverbs 8:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; other Hebrew manuscripts all righteous rulers
  3. Proverbs 8:22 Or way; or dominion
  4. Proverbs 8:22 Or The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work; or The Lord brought me forth at the beginning of his work
  5. Proverbs 8:30 Or was the artisan; or was a little child
  6. Proverbs 9:1 Septuagint, Syriac and Targum; Hebrew has hewn out
  7. Proverbs 9:11 Septuagint, Syriac and Targum; Hebrew me
  8. Proverbs 10:6 Or righteous, / but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence
  9. Proverbs 10:7 See Gen. 48:20.
  10. Proverbs 11:7 Two Hebrew manuscripts; most Hebrew manuscripts, Vulgate, Syriac and Targum When the wicked die, their hope perishes; / all they expected from