1Does not wisdom call, and understanding give forth her voice?
2At the top of the heights, beside the way, at the place where the paths meet, she stands.
3Beside the gates, at the mouth of the city, at the entrance of the doors she cries aloud:
4"To you, O men (ish), I call, and my voice is to the sons of man (adam).
5Understand prudence, O simple ones; and fools, understand heart.
6Hear, for noble things I will speak, and the opening of my lips is upright things.
7For my palate utters truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8In righteousness are all the words of my mouth; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.
9All of them are plain to the one who understands, and right to those who find knowledge.
10Take my instruction and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11For wisdom is better than rubies, and all desirable things cannot be compared to her.
12I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and knowledge of devices I find.
13The fear of YHWH is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the mouth of perversities I hate.
14Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine.
15By me kings reign, and rulers decree righteousness.
16By me princes rule, and nobles, all the judges of righteousness.
17I love those who love me, and those who seek me earnestly find me.
18Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness.
19Better is my fruit than gold, even than fine gold, and my produce than choice silver.
20In the path of righteousness I walk, in the midst of the paths of judgment (mishpat),
21To cause those who love me to inherit substance, and their treasuries I fill.
22YHWH possessed me, the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
23From everlasting I was set up, from the beginning, from the ancient times of the earth.
24When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no fountains heavy with water.
25Before the mountains were settled, before the hills I was brought forth,
26While he had not yet made the earth and the fields, and the first of the dusts (aphar) of the world.
27When he established the heavens, there I was; when he inscribed a circle upon the face of the deep,
28When he made firm the skies above, when the fountains of the deep grew strong,
29When he set for the sea its statute (choq), that the waters should not pass over his mouth; when he inscribed the foundations of the earth,
30And I was beside him a master workman; and I was delight day by day, playing before him at all times,
31Playing in the world of his earth, and my delights were with the sons of man (adam).
32And now, sons, hear me; and happy are those who keep my ways.
33Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.
34Happy is the man (adam) who hears me, watching at my doors day by day, guarding the posts of my doorways.
35For one who finds me finds life (chai), and obtains favor from YHWH.
36And one who sins against me wrongs his own soul (nephesh); all who hate me love death."