Wisdom Calls

1 Is not wisdom crying out, and the voice of knowledge sounding?

1 Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?

1 Does not (A)wisdom call,And understanding (a)lift up her voice?

1 Doesn’t Wisdom(A) call out?Doesn’t Understanding make her voice heard?

1 Isn't wisdom calling out; isn't understanding raising her voice?

2 At the top of the highways, at the meeting of the roads, she takes her place;

2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.

2 On top of (B)the heights beside the way,Where the paths meet, she takes her stand;

2 At the heights overlooking the road,at the crossroads, she takes her stand.

2 On top of the highest places along the road she stands where the roads meet.

3 Where the roads go into the town her cry goes out, at the doorways her voice is loud:

3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.

3 Beside the (C)gates, at the opening to the city,At the entrance of the doors, she cries out:

3 Beside the gates(B) at the entry to(a) the city,at the main entrance, she cries out:

3 Beside the gates, at the city entrance at the entrance to the portals she cries aloud:

4 I am crying out to you, O men; my voice comes to the sons of men.

4 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.

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

4 “People, I call out to you;my cry is to mankind.

4 "I'm calling to you, men! What I have to say pertains to all mankind!

5 Become expert in reason, O you simple ones; you foolish ones, take training to heart.

5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

5 “O (b)(D)naive ones, understand prudence;And, O (E)fools, understand (c)wisdom.

5 Learn to be shrewd, you who are inexperienced;develop common sense, you who are foolish.

5 Understand prudence, you naive people; and gain an understanding heart, you foolish ones.

6 Give ear, for my words are true, and my lips are open to give out what is upright.

6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

6 “Listen, for I will speak (F)noble things;And the opening of my lips will reveal (G)right things.

6 Listen, for I speak of noble things,and what my lips say is right.

6 Listen, because I have noble things to say, and what I have to say will reveal what is right.

7 For good faith goes out of my mouth, and false lips are disgusting to me.

7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

7 “For my (H)mouth will utter truth;And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

7 For my mouth tells the truth,(C)and wickedness is detestable to my lips.

7 For my mouth speaks the truth wickedness is detestable to me.

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

8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.

8 “All the utterances of my mouth are in righteousness;There is nothing (I)crooked or perverted in them.

8 All the words of my mouth are righteous;none of them are deceptive or perverse.(D)

8 Everything I have to say is just; there isn't anything corrupt or perverse in my speech.

9 They are all true to him whose mind is awake, and straightforward to those who get knowledge.

9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

9 “They are all (J)straightforward to him who understands,And right to those who (K)find knowledge.

9 All of them are clear to the perceptive,(E)and right to those who discover knowledge.

9 Everything I say is sensible to someone who understands, and correct to those who have acquired knowledge.

10 Take my teaching, and not silver; get knowledge in place of the best gold.

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

10 “Take my (L)instruction and not silver,And knowledge rather than choicest gold.

10 Accept my instruction instead of silver,and knowledge rather than pure gold.(F)

10 Grab hold of my instruction in lieu of money and knowledge instead of the finest gold,

11 For wisdom is better than jewels, and all things which may be desired are nothing in comparison with her.

11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

11 “For wisdom is (M)better than (d)jewels;And (N)all desirable things cannot compare with her.

11 For wisdom is better than jewels,(G)and nothing desirable can compare with it.(H)

11 because wisdom is better than precious gems and nothing you desire can compare to it."

Wisdom's Authority

12 I, wisdom, have made wise behaviour my near relation; I am seen to be the special friend of wise purposes.

12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.

12 “I, wisdom, (O)dwell with prudence,And I find (P)knowledge and discretion.

12 I, Wisdom, share a home with shrewdnessand have knowledge and discretion.(I)

12 "I, wisdom, am related to prudence. I know how to be discreet.

13 The fear of the Lord is seen in hating evil: pride, a high opinion of oneself, the evil way, and the false tongue, are unpleasing to me.

13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

13 “The (Q)fear of the Lord is to hate evil;(R)Pride and arrogance and (S)the evil wayAnd the (T)perverted mouth, I hate.

13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil.(J)I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct,and perverse speech.

13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil. Pride, arrogance, an evil lifestyle, and perverted speech I despise.

14 Wise design and good sense are mine; reason and strength are mine.

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

14 (U)Counsel is mine and (V)sound wisdom;I am understanding, (W)power is mine.

14 I possess good advice and competence;(b)I have understanding and strength.(K)

14 Counsel belongs to me, along with sound judgment. I am understanding. Power belongs to me.

15 Through me kings have their power, and rulers give right decisions.

15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.

15 “By me (X)kings reign,And rulers decree justice.

15 It is by me that kings reign(L)and rulers enact just law;

15 Kings reign by me, and rulers dispense justice through me.

16 Through me chiefs have authority, and the noble ones are judging in righteousness.

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

16 “By me princes rule, and nobles,All who judge rightly.

16 by me, princes lead,as do nobles and all righteous judges.(c)

16 By me leaders rule, as do noble officials and all who govern justly.

17 Those who have given me their love are loved by me, and those who make search for me with care will get me.

17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

17 “I (Y)love those who love me;And (Z)those who diligently seek me will find me.

17 I love those who love me,(M)and those who search for me find me.(N)

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

18 Wealth and honour are in my hands, even wealth without equal and righteousness.

18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.

18 (AA)Riches and honor are with me,Enduring (AB)wealth and righteousness.

18 With me are riches and honor,(O)lasting wealth and righteousness.(P)

18 Wealth and honor accompany me, as do enduring wealth and righteousness.

19 My fruit is better than gold, even than the best gold; and my increase is more to be desired than silver.

19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.

19 “My fruit is (AC)better than gold, even pure gold,And my yield better than (AD)choicest silver.

19 My fruit is better than solid gold,and my harvest than pure silver.(Q)

19 My fruit is better than gold, better than even refined gold, and my benefit surpasses the purest silver.

20 I go in the road of righteousness, in the way of right judging:

20 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:

20 “I walk in the way of righteousness,In the midst of the paths of justice,

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

20 I walk on the way of righteousness, along paths that are just,

21 So that I may give my lovers wealth for their heritage, making their store-houses full.

21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.

21 To endow those who love me with wealth,That I may (AE)fill their treasuries.

21 giving wealth as an inheritance to those who love me,and filling their treasuries.

21 I bequeath wealth to those who love me, and I will fill their treasuries."

Wisdom At Creation

22 The Lord made me as the start of his way, the first of his works in the past.

22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

22 “The Lord possessed me (AF)at the beginning of His way,Before His works (e)of old.

22 “The Lord made(d) meat the beginning of His creation,(e)before His works of long ago.(R)

22 "The LORD made me as he began his planning, before his ancient activity commenced.

23 From eternal days I was given my place, from the birth of time, before the earth was.

23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

23 “From everlasting I was (f)(AG)established,From the beginning, (AH)from the earliest times of the earth.

23 I was formed before ancient times,from the beginning, before the earth began.(S)

23 From eternity I was appointed, from the beginning, from before there was land.

24 When there was no deep I was given birth, when there were no fountains flowing with water.

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

24 “When there were no (AI)depths I was (g)brought forth,When there were no springs abounding with water.

24 I was bornwhen there were no watery depths(T)and no springs filled with water.

24 When there were no ocean depths, I brought them to birth at a time when there were no springs.

25 Before the mountains were put in their places, before the hills was my birth:

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

25 (AJ)Before the mountains were settled,Before the hills I was (h)brought forth;

25 I was deliveredbefore the mountains and hills were established,(U)

25 Before the mountains were shaped, before there were hills, I was bringing them to birth.

26 When he had not made the earth or the fields or the dust of the world.

26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.

26 While He had not yet made the earth and the (i)fields,Nor the first dust of the world.

26 before He made the land, the fields,or the first soil on earth.

26 Even though he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the world's first grains of dust,

27 When he made ready the heavens I was there: when he put an arch over the face of the deep:

27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:

27 “When He (AK)established the heavens, I was there,When (AL)He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,

27 I was there when He established the heavens,(V)when He laid out the horizon on the surface of the ocean,(W)

27 when he crafted the heavens, I was there when he marked out a circle on the face of the deep,

28 When he made strong the skies overhead: when the fountains of the deep were fixed:

28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:

28 When He made firm the skies above,When the springs of the deep became (j)fixed,

28 when He placed the skies above,when the fountains of the ocean gushed out,

28 when he made the clouds from above, when the springs of the depths were established,

29 When he put a limit to the sea, so that the waters might not go against his word: when he put in position the bases of the earth:

29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

29 When (AM)He set for the sea its boundarySo that the water would not transgress His (k)command,When He marked out (AN)the foundations of the earth;

29 when He set a limit for the seaso that the waters would not violate His command,(X)when He laid out the foundations of the earth.(Y)

29 when he set a boundary for the sea so the waters would not exceed his limits, when he marked out the foundations of the earth.

30 Then I was by his side, as a master workman: and I was his delight from day to day, playing before him at all times;

30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;

30 Then (AO)I was beside Him, as a master workman;And I was daily His delight,(l)Rejoicing always before Him,

30 I was a skilled craftsman(f) beside Him.(Z)I was His(g) delight every day,always rejoicing before Him.

30 Then I was with him, his master craftsman I was his delight daily, continuously rejoicing in his presence,

31 Playing in his earth; and my delight was with the sons of men.

31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.

31 (m)Rejoicing in the world, His earth,And having (AP)my delight in the sons of men.

31 I was rejoicing in His inhabited world,(AA)delighting in the human race.(AB)

31 rejoicing in his inhabitable world and taking delight in mankind."

Benefits Of Following Wisdom

32 Give ear to me then, my sons: for happy are those who keep my ways.

32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.

32 “Now therefore, O sons, (AQ)listen to me,For (AR)blessed are they who keep my ways.

32 “And now, my sons, listen to me;those who keep my ways are happy.(AC)

32 "So listen to me, children! Blessed are those who obey me.

33 Take my teaching and be wise; do not let it go.

33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

33 (AS)Heed instruction and be wise,And do not neglect it.

33 Listen to instruction and be wise;(AD)don’t ignore it.

33 Listen to instruction and be wise. Don't ignore it.

34 Happy is the man who gives ear to me, watching at my doors day by day, keeping his place by the pillars of my house.

34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

34 (AT)Blessed is the man who listens to me,Watching daily at my gates,Waiting at my doorposts.

34 Anyone who listens to me is happy,(AE)watching at my doors every day,waiting by the posts of my doorway.

34 Blessed is the person who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my doorways

35 For whoever gets me gets life, and grace from the Lord will come to him.

35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.

35 “For (AU)he who finds me finds lifeAnd (AV)obtains favor from the Lord.

35 For the one who finds me finds life(AF)and obtains favor from the Lord,(AG)

35 because those who find me find life and gain favor from the LORD.

36 But he who does evil to me, does wrong to his soul: all my haters are in love with death.

36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

36 “But he who (n)sins against me (AW)injures himself;All those who (AX)hate me (AY)love death.”

36 but the one who misses me(h) harms himself;(AH)all who hate me love death.”(AI)

36 But whoever sins against me destroys himself; everyone who hates me loves death."

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain

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