New King James Version

English Standard Version

1Does not wisdom cry out, And understanding lift up her voice?

1Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice?

2She takes her stand on the top of the high hill, Beside the way, where the paths meet.

2On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand;

3She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city, At the entrance of the doors:

3beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:

4“To you, O men, I call, And my voice is to the sons of men.

4“To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man.

5O you simple ones, understand prudence, And you fools, be of an understanding heart.

5O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense.

6Listen, for I will speak of excellent things, And from the opening of my lips will come right things;

6Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right,

7For my mouth will speak truth; Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

7for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

8All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; Nothing crooked or perverse is in them.

8All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.

9They are all plain to him who understands, And right to those who find knowledge.

9They are all straight to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge.

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

10Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold,

11For wisdom is better than rubies, And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.

11for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

12“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And find out knowledge and discretion.

12“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.

13The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.

13The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.

14Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength.

14I have counsel and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have strength.

15By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice.

15By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just;

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

16by me princes rule, and nobles, all who govern justly.

17I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me.

17I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.

18Riches and honor are with me, Enduring riches and righteousness.

18Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness.

19My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, And my revenue than choice silver.

19My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver.

20I traverse the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice,

20I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice,

21That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, That I may fill their treasuries.

21granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries.

22“The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old.

22“The LORD possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old.

23I have been established from everlasting, From the beginning, before there was ever an earth.

23Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.

24When there were no depths I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water.

24When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water.

25Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills, I was brought forth;

25Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth,

26While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields, Or the primal dust of the world.

26before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world.

27When He prepared the heavens, I was there, When He drew a circle on the face of the deep,

27When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,

28When He established the clouds above, When He strengthened the fountains of the deep,

28when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep,

29When He assigned to the sea its limit, So that the waters would not transgress His command, When He marked out the foundations of the earth,

29when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,

30Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him,

30then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always,

31Rejoicing in His inhabited world, And my delight was with the sons of men.

31rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man.

32“Now therefore, listen to me, my children, For blessed are those who keep my ways.

32“And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways.

33Hear instruction and be wise, And do not disdain it.

33Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.

34Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors.

34Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.

35For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the LORD;

35For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD,

36But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; All those who hate me love death.”

36but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.”

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.