1 Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding give forth her voice?2 On the top of high places by the way, at the cross-paths she taketh her stand.3 Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud.4 Unto you, men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of man:5 O ye simple, understand prudence; and ye foolish, understand sense.6 Hear, for I will speak excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall be right things.7 For my palate shall meditate truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing tortuous or perverse in them.9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold:11 for wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things that may be desired are not equal to it.12 I wisdom dwell {with} prudence, and find the knowledge {which cometh} of reflection.13 The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil; pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth do I hate.14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am intelligence; I have strength.15 By me kings reign, and rulers make just decrees;16 by me princes rule, and nobles, all the judges of the earth.17 I love those that love me; and they that seek me early shall find me.18 Riches and honour are with me; durable wealth and righteousness.19 My fruit is better than fine gold, yea, than pure gold; and my revenue than choice silver.20 I walk in the path of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:21 that I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasuries.22 Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.23 I was set up from eternity, from the beginning, before the earth was.24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth, when there were no fountains abounding with water.25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth;26 while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.27 When he prepared the heavens I was there; when he ordained the circle upon the face of the deep;28 when he established the skies above, when the fountains of the deep became strong;29 when he imposed on the sea his decree that the waters should not pass his commandment, when he appointed the foundations of the earth:30 then I was by him {his} nursling, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;31 rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth, and my delights {were} with the sons of men.32 And now, sons, hearken unto me, and blessed are they that keep my ways:33 hear instruction and be wise, and refuse it not.34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and obtaineth favour of Jehovah;36 but he that sinneth against me doeth violence to his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

1 Roep die Wysheid nie, en verhef die Verstandigheid nie haar stem nie?2 Op die top van die hoogtes langs die weg, op die kruispunt van die paaie staan sy,3 aan die kant van die poorte by die uitgang van die stad, by die ingang van die deure roep sy hardop:4 Ek roep na julle, manne, en my stem is tot die mensekinders.5 Leer tog skranderheid verstaan, eenvoudiges, en dwase, leer verstandigheid verstaan.6 Hoor, want ek sal voortreflike dinge spreek, en my lippe gaan oop vir wat reg is.7 Want my verhemelte spreek waarheid, en goddeloosheid is vir my lippe 'n gruwel.8 Al die woorde van my mond is reg, daarin is niks wat slinks of vals is nie,9 hulle is almal duidelik vir die verstandige en reg vir die wat kennis gevind het.10 Neem my tug aan, en nie silwer nie, en kennis liewer as uitgesoekte goud.11 Want wysheid is beter as korale, en al die kleinode kan daar nie mee vergelyk word nie.12 Ek, Wysheid, is vertroud met die skranderheid, en ek vind kennis van regte oorleg.13 Die vrees van die HERE is om te haat wat sleg is; hoogmoed en trotsheid en 'n slegte wandel en 'n huigelagtige mond haat ek.14 Raad en beleid is myne, ek is die insig, sterkte is myne.15 Deur my regeer die konings en stel die maghebbers vas wat reg is;16 deur my heers die vorste en die edeles, al die regters van die aarde.17 k het lief die wat my liefhet, en die wat my soek, sal my vind.18 Rykdom en eer is by my, duursame goed en geregtigheid.19 My vrug is beter as goud en as fyn goud, en my opbrings as uitgesoekte silwer.20 Ek wandel op die weg van geregtigheid, in die middel van die paaie van reg,21 om die wat my liefhet, 'n besitting te laat erwe, en hulle skatkamers maak ek vol.22 Die HERE het my berei as eersteling van sy weg, voor sy werke, van ouds af.23 Van ewigheid af is ek geformeer, van die begin af, van die voortyd van die aarde af.24 Toe daar nog geen wêreldvloede was nie, is ek gebore; toe fonteine, swaar van water, nog nie daar was nie;25 voordat die berge ingesink het, voor die heuwels is ek gebore;26 toe Hy die aarde en die velde en al die stoffies van die wêreld nog nie gemaak het nie.27 Toe Hy die hemele berei het, was ek daar; toe Hy 'n kring afgetrek het op die oppervlakte van die wêreldvloed;28 toe Hy die wolke daarbo bevestig het, toe die bronne van die wêreldvloed sterk geword het;29 toe Hy vir die see sy grens gestel het, dat die waters sy bevel nie sou oortree nie; toe Hy die fondamente van die aarde vasgelê het --30 toe was ek 'n kunstenaar naas Hom, en ek was dag vir dag vol verlustiging en het gespeel voor sy aangesig altyd,31 en het gespeel op sy wêreldrond, en my verlustiginge was met die mensekinders.32 Luister dan nou na my, seuns; want gelukkig is hulle wat my weë bewaar.33 Luister na tug en word wys, en verwerp dit nie.34 Gelukkig is die mens wat na my luister, om dag vir dag te waak aan my deure, by die syposte van my poorte die wag te hou.35 Want hy wat my vind, het die lewe gevind en verkry 'n welbehae van die HERE.36 Maar hy wat my mis, benadeel sy eie lewe; almal wat my haat, het die dood lief.