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

1Wisdom hath built her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars;2she hath slaughtered her cattle, she hath mingled her wine, she hath also prepared her table;3she hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the summits of the high places of the city,4Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither. To him that is void of understanding, she saith,5Come, eat ye of my bread, and drink of the wine that I have mingled.6Forsake follies and live, and go in the way of intelligence.7He that instructeth a scorner getteth to himself shame; and he that reproveth a wicked man getteth to himself a blot.8Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee; reprove a wise man, and he will love thee.9Impart to a wise man, and he will become yet wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase learning.10The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the Holy is intelligence.11For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and years of life shall be added to thee.12If thou art wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself; and if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.13The foolish woman is clamorous; she is stupid, and knoweth nothing.14And she sitteth at the entry of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,15to call passers-by who go right on their ways:16Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither. And to him that is void of understanding she saith,17Stolen waters are sweet, and the bread of secrecy is pleasant.18But he knoweth not that the dead are there; that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

1The Proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father; but a foolish son is the grief of his mother.2Treasures of wickedness profit nothing; but righteousness delivereth from death.3Jehovah suffereth not the soul of the righteous man to famish; but he repelleth the craving of the wicked.4He cometh to want that dealeth with a slack hand; but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.5He that gathereth in summer is a wise son; he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.6Blessings are upon the head of a righteous man; but the mouth of the wicked covereth violence.7The memory of the righteous man shall be blessed; but the name of the wicked shall rot.8The wise in heart receiveth commandments; but a prating fool shall fall.9He that walketh in integrity walketh securely; but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.10He that winketh with the eye causeth grief, and a prating fool shall fall.11The mouth of a righteous man is a fountain of life; but the mouth of the wicked covereth violence.12Hatred stirreth up strifes; but love covereth all transgressions.13In the lips of an intelligent man wisdom is found; but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.14The wise lay up knowledge; but the mouth of the fool is near destruction.15The rich man's wealth is his strong city; the destruction of the poor is their poverty.16The labour of a righteous man tendeth to life; the revenue of a wicked man, to sin.17Keeping instruction is the path to life; but he that forsaketh reproof goeth astray.18He that covereth hatred hath lying lips, and he that sendeth forth a slander is a fool.19In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression; but he that restraineth his lips doeth wisely.20The tongue of the righteous man is as choice silver; the heart of the wicked is little worth.21The lips of a righteous man feed many; but fools die for want of understanding.22The blessing of Jehovah, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow to it.23It is as sport to a foolish man to do wickedness; but a man of understanding hath wisdom.24The fear of a wicked man, it shall come upon him; but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.25As a whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more; but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.26As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.27The fear of Jehovah prolongeth days; but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.28The hope of the righteous is joy; but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.29The way of Jehovah is strength to the perfect man, but destruction to the workers of iniquity.30The righteous man shall never be moved; but the wicked shall not inhabit the land.31The mouth of a righteous man putteth forth wisdom; but the froward tongue shall be cut out.32The lips of a righteous man know what is acceptable; but the mouth of the wicked is frowardness.

1A false balance is an abomination to Jehovah; but a just weight is his delight.2When pride cometh, then cometh shame; but with the lowly is wisdom.3The integrity of the upright guideth them; but the crookedness of the unfaithful destroyeth them.4Wealth profiteth not in the day of wrath; but righteousness delivereth from death.5The righteousness of the perfect maketh plain his way; but the wicked falleth by his own wickedness.6The righteousness of the upright delivereth them; but the treacherous are taken in their own craving.7When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish; and the hope of evil men perisheth.8The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.9With his mouth a hypocrite destroyeth his neighbour; but through knowledge are the righteous delivered.10When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth; and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.11By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted; but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.12He that despiseth his neighbour is void of heart; but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.13He that goeth about talebearing revealeth secrets; but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.14Where no advice is, the people fall; but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.15It goeth ill with him that is surety for another; but he that hateth suretyship is secure.16A gracious woman retaineth honour; and the violent retain riches.17The merciful man doeth good to his own soul; but the cruel troubleth his own flesh.18The wicked worketh a deceitful work; but he that soweth righteousness hath a sure reward.19As righteousness tendeth to life, so he that pursueth evil doeth it to his own death.20The perverse in heart are abomination to Jehovah; but they that are perfect in their way are his delight.21Hand for hand! an evil man shall not be held innocent; but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.22A fair woman who is without discretion, is as a gold ring in a swine's snout.23The desire of the righteous is only good; the expectation of the wicked is wrath.24There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is right, but it tendeth only to want.25The liberal soul shall be made fat, and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.26He that withholdeth corn, the people curse him; but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.27He that is earnest after good seeketh favour; but he that searcheth for mischief, it shall come upon him.28He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a leaf.29He that troubleth his own house shall inherit wind; and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and the wise winneth souls.31Behold, the righteous shall be requited on the earth: how much more the wicked and the sinner.