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The preaching of wisdom. Her excellence.
[1] Doth not wisdom cry aloud, and prudence put forth her voice?
[2] Standing in the top of the highest places by the way, in the midst of the paths.
[3] Beside the gates of the city, in the very doors she speaketh, saying:
[4] O ye men, to you I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.
... [5] O little ones, understand subtilty, and ye unwise, take notice.
... [6] Hear, for I will speak of great things: and my lips shall be opened to preach right things.
... [7] My mouth shall meditate truth, and my lips shall hate wickedness.
... [8] All my words are just, there is nothing wicked nor perverse in them.
... [9] They are right to them that understand, and just to them that find knowledge.
... [10] Receive my instruction, and not money: choose knowledge rather than gold.
... [11] For wisdom is better than all the most precious things: and whatsoever may be desired cannot be compared to it.
... [12] I wisdom dwell in counsel, and am present in learned thoughts.
... [13] The fear of the Lord hateth evil: I hate arrogance, and pride, and every wicked way, and a mouth with a double tongue.
... [14] Counsel and equity is mine, prudence is mine, strength is mine.
... [15] By me kings reign, and lawgivers decree just things,
... [16] By me princes rule, and the mighty decree justice.
... [17] I love them that love me: and they that in the morning early watch for me, shall find me.
... [18] With me are riches and glory, glorious riches and justice.
... [19] For my fruit is better than gold and the precious stone, and my blossoms than choice silver.
... [20] I walk in the way of justice, in the midst of the paths of judgment,
... [21] That I may enrich them that love me, and may fill their treasures.
... [22] The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his ways, before he made any thing from the beginning.
... [23] I was set up from eternity, and of old before the earth was made.
... [24] The depths were not as yet, and I was already conceived. neither had the fountains of waters as yet sprung out:
... [25] The mountains with their huge bulk had not as yet been established: before the hills I was brought forth:
... [26] He had not yet made the earth, nor the rivers, nor the poles of the world.
... [27] When he prepared the heavens, I was present: when with a certain law and compass he enclosed the depths:
... [28] When he established the sky above, and poised the fountains of waters:
... [29] When he compassed the sea with its bounds, and set a law to the waters that they should not pass their limits: when he balanced the foundations of the earth;
... [30] I was with him forming all things: and was delighted every day, playing before him at all times;
... [31] Playing in the world: and my delights were to be with the children of men.
... [32] Now therefore, ye children, hear me: 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, and that watcheth daily at my gates, and waiteth at the posts of my doors.
... [35] He that shall find me, shall find life, and shall have salvation from the Lord:
... [36] But he that shall sin against me, shall hurt his own soul. All that hate me love death.
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