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Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?
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At the highest point along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
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beside the gate leading into the city, at the entrance, she cries aloud:
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“To you, O people, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind.
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You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.
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Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right.
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My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness.
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All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse.
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To the discerning all of them are right; they are upright to those who have found knowledge.
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Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold,
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for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.
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“I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion.
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To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
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Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight, I have power.
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By me kings reign and rulers issue decrees that are just;
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by me princes govern, and nobles – all who rule on earth.
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I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.
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With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.
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My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver.
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I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
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bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me and making their treasuries full.
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The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old;
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I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be.
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When there were no watery depths, I was given birth, when there were no springs overflowing with water;
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before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth,
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before he made the world or its fields or any of the dust of the earth.
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I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,
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when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,
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when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.
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Then I was constantly at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence,
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rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind.
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“Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.
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Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it.
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Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.
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For those who find me find life and receive favor from the LORD.
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But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death.”
