3
She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city, At the entrance of the doors:
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"To you, O men, I call, And my voice is to the sons of men.
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O you simple ones, understand prudence, And you fools, be of an understanding heart.
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Listen, for I will speak of excellent things, And from the opening of my lips will come right things;
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For my mouth will speak truth; Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
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All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; Nothing crooked or perverse is in them.
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They are all plain to him who understands, And right to those who find knowledge.
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Receive my instruction, and not silver, And knowledge rather than choice gold;
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For wisdom is better than rubies, And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.
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"I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And find out knowledge and discretion.
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The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.
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Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength.
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By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice.
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By me princes rule, and nobles, All the judges of the earth.
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I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me.
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Riches and honor are with me, Enduring riches and righteousness.
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My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, And my revenue than choice silver.
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I traverse the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice,
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That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, That I may fill their treasuries.
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"The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old.
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I have been established from everlasting, From the beginning, before there was ever an earth.
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When there were no depths I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water.
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Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills, I was brought forth;
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While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields, Or the primeval dust of the world.
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When He prepared the heavens, I was there, When He drew a circle on the face of the deep,
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When He established the clouds above, When He strengthened the fountains of the deep,
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When He assigned to the sea its limit, So that the waters would not transgress His command, When He marked out the foundations of the earth,
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Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him,
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Rejoicing in His inhabited world, And my delight was with the sons of men.
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"Now therefore, listen to me, my children, For blessed are those who keep my ways.
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Hear instruction and be wise, And do not disdain it.
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Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors.
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For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the Lord;
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But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; All those who hate me love death."