81 Doth not wisdom call? And understanding give forth her voice? 2 At the head of high places by the way, Between the paths she hath stood, 3 At the side of the gates, at the mouth of the city, The entrance of the openings, she crieth aloud, 4 'Unto you, O men, I call, And my voice 'is' unto the sons of men. 5 Understand, ye simple ones, prudence, And ye fools, understand the heart, 6 Hearken, for noble things I speak, And the opening of my lips 'is' uprightness. 7 For truth doth my mouth utter, And an abomination to my lips 'is' wickedness. 8 In righteousness 'are' all the sayings of my mouth, Nothing in them is froward and perverse. 9 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!
31 My son! my law forget not, And my commands let thy heart keep, 2 For length of days and years, Life and peace they do add to thee. 3 Let not kindness and truth forsake thee, Bind them on thy neck, Write them on the tablet of thy heart, 4 And find grace and good understanding In the eyes of God and man. 5 Trust unto Jehovah with all thy heart, And unto thine own understanding lean not. 6 In all thy ways know thou Him, And He doth make straight thy paths.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes, Fear Jehovah, and turn aside from evil. 8 Healing it is to thy navel, And moistening to thy bones. 9 Honour Jehovah from thy substance, And from the beginning of all thine increase; 10 And filled are thy barns 'with' plenty, And 'with' new wine thy presses break forth. 11 Chastisement of Jehovah, my son, despise not, And be not vexed with His reproof, 12 For whom Jehovah loveth He reproveth, Even as a father the son He is pleased with.
13 O the happiness of a man 'who' hath found wisdom, And of a man 'who' bringeth forth understanding. 14 For better 'is' her merchandise Than the merchandise of silver, And than gold—her increase. 15 Precious she 'is' above rubies, And all thy pleasures are not comparable to her. 16 Length of days 'is' in her right hand, In her left 'are' wealth and honour. 17 Her ways 'are' ways of pleasantness, And all her paths 'are' peace. 18 A tree of life she 'is' to those laying hold on her, And whoso is retaining her 'is' happy. 19 Jehovah by wisdom did found the earth, He prepared the heavens by understanding. 20 By His knowledge depths have been rent, And clouds do drop dew.
21 My son! let them not turn from thine eyes, Keep thou wisdom and thoughtfulness, 22 And they are life to thy soul, and grace to thy neck. 23 Then thou goest thy way confidently, And thy foot doth not stumble. 24 If thou liest down, thou art not afraid, Yea, thou hast lain down, And sweet hath been thy sleep. 25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, And of the desolation of the wicked when it cometh. 26 For Jehovah is at thy side, And He hath kept thy foot from capture.
27 Withhold not good from its owners, When thy hand 'is' toward God to do 'it'. 28 Say not thou to thy friend, 'Go, and return, and to-morrow I give,' And substance with thee. 29 Devise not against thy neighbour evil, And he sitting confidently with thee. 30 Strive not with a man without cause, If he have not done thee evil. 31 Be not envious of a man of violence, Nor fix thou on any of his ways. 32 For an abomination to Jehovah 'is' the perverted, And with the upright 'is' His secret counsel. 33 The curse of Jehovah 'is' in the house of the wicked. And the habitation of the righteous He blesseth. 34 If the scorners He doth scorn, Yet to the humble He doth give grace. 35 Honour do the wise inherit, And fools are bearing away shame!
