| 1 ¶ Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
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| 2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
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| 3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
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| 4 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
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| 5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
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| 6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
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| 7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.1
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| 8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward2 or perverse in them.
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| 9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
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| 10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
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| 11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
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| 12 ¶ I wisdom dwell with prudence,3 and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
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| 13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
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| 14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
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| 15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
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| 16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
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| 17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
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| 18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
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| 19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
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| 20 I lead4 in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
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| 21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
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| 22 ¶ The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
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| 23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
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| 24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
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| 25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:
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| 26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields,5 nor the highest6 part of the dust of the world.
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| 27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass7 upon the face of the depth:
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| 28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
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| 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:
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| 30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
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| 31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
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| 32 ¶ Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
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| 33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
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| 34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
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| 35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain8 favour of the LORD.
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| 36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
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