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2On the heights along the way,
where the paths meet, she takes her stand;

3beside the gates leading into the city,
at the entrances, she cries aloud:

4“To you, O men, I call out;
I raise my voice to all mankind.

5You who are simple, gain prudence;
you who are foolish, gain understanding.

6Listen, for I have worthy things to say;
I open my lips to speak what is right.

7My mouth speaks what is true,
for my lips detest wickedness.

8All the words of my mouth are just;
none of them is crooked or perverse.

9To the discerning all of them are right;
they are faultless to those who have knowledge.

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

11for wisdom is more precious than rubies,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.

12“I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
I possess knowledge and discretion.

13To fear the LORD is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech.

14Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
I have understanding and power.

15By me kings reign
and rulers make laws that are just;

16by me princes govern,
and all nobles who rule on earth.Many Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts and nobles—all righteous rulers

19My fruit is better than fine gold;
what I yield surpasses choice silver.

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

21bestowing wealth on those who love me
and making their treasuries full.

22“The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works,Or way; or dominion,Or The LORD possessed me at the beginning of his work; or The LORD brought me forth at the beginning of his work
before his deeds of old;

23I was appointedOr fashioned from eternity,
from the beginning, before the world began.

24When there were no oceans, I was given birth,
when there were no springs abounding with water;

25before the mountains were settled in place,
before the hills, I was given birth,

26before he made the earth or its fields
or any 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,

28when he established the clouds above
and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,

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.

30Then I was the craftsman at his side.
I was filled with delight day after day,
rejoicing always in his presence,

31rejoicing in his whole world
and delighting in mankind.

32“Now then, my sons, listen to me;
blessed are those who keep my ways.

33Listen to my instruction and be wise;
do not ignore it.

34Blessed is the man who listens to me,
watching daily at my doors,
waiting at my doorway.

35For whoever finds me finds life
and receives favor from the LORD.

36But whoever fails to find me harms himself;
all who hate me love death.”