| New International Version | NET Bible |
| 1Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? | 1Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? |
| 2At the highest point along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand; | 2At the top of the elevated places along the way, at the intersection of the paths she takes her stand; |
| 3beside the gate leading into the city, at the entrance, she cries aloud: | 3beside the gates opening into the city, at the entrance of the doorways she cries out: |
| 4"To you, O people, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind. | 4"To you, O people, I call out, and my voice calls to all mankind. |
| 5You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, set your hearts on it. | 5You who are naive, discern wisdom! And you fools, understand discernment! |
| 6Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right. | 6Listen, for I will speak excellent things, and my lips will utter what is right. |
| 7My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness. | 7For my mouth speaks truth, and my lips hate wickedness. |
| 8All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse. | 8All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing in them twisted or crooked. |
| 9To the discerning all of them are right; they are upright to those who have found knowledge. | 9All of them are clear to the discerning and upright to those who find knowledge. |
| 10Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, | 10Receive my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold. |
| 11for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. | 11For wisdom is better than rubies, and desirable things cannot be compared to her. |
| 12"I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion. | 12"I, wisdom, live with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. |
| 13To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. | 13The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride and the evil way and perverse utterances. |
| 14Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight, I have power. | 14Counsel and sound wisdom belong to me; I possess understanding and might. |
| 15By me kings reign and rulers issue decrees that are just; | 15Kings reign by means of me, and potentates decree righteousness; |
| 16by me princes govern, and nobles--all who rule on earth. | 16by me princes rule, as well as nobles and all righteous judges. |
| 17I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. | 17I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. |
| 18With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. | 18Riches and honor are with me, long-lasting wealth and righteousness. |
| 19My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. | 19My fruit is better than the purest gold, and what I produce is better than choice silver. |
| 20I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, | 20I walk in the path of righteousness, in the pathway of justice, |
| 21bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me and making their treasuries full. | 21that I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, and that I may fill their treasuries. |
| 22"The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; | 22The LORD created me as the beginning of his works, before his deeds of long ago. |
| 23I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be. | 23From eternity I was appointed, from the beginning, from before the world existed. |
| 24When there were no watery depths, I was given birth, when there were no springs overflowing with water; | 24When there were no deep oceans I was born, when there were no springs overflowing with water; |
| 25before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth, | 25before the mountains were set in place--before the hills--I was born, |
| 26before he made the world or its fields or any of the dust of the earth. | 26before he made the earth and its fields, or the beginning of the dust of the world. |
| 27I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, | 27When he established the heavens, I was there; when he marked out the horizon over the face of the deep, |
| 28when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep, | 28when he established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep grew strong, |
| 29when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth. | 29when he gave the sea his decree that the waters should not pass over his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, |
| 30Then I was constantly at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence, | 30then I was beside him as a master craftsman, and I was his delight day by day, rejoicing before him at all times, |
| 31rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind. | 31rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth, and delighting in its people. |
| 32"Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. | 32"So now, children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. |
| 33Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it. | 33Listen to my instruction so that you may be wise, and do not neglect it. |
| 34Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. | 34Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching at my doors day by day, waiting beside my doorway. |
| 35For those who find me find life and receive favor from the LORD. | 35For the one who finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD. |
| 36But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death." | 36But the one who does not find me brings harm to himself; all who hate me love death." |
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