Wisdom’s Appeal
1Doesn’t wisdom8:1–3 Pr 1:20–21; 9:3,13–15 call out?
Doesn’t understanding make her voice heard?
2At the heights overlooking the road,
at the crossroads, she takes her stand.
at the main entrance, she cries out:
4“People, I call out to you;
my cry is to the children of Adam.
5Learn to be shrewd, you who are inexperienced;
develop common sense, you who are foolish.
6Listen, for I speak of noble things,
and what my lips say is right.
and wickedness is detestable to my lips.
8All the words from my mouth are righteous;
and right to those who discover knowledge.
10Accept my instruction instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than pure gold.8:10 Pr 3:14–15; 8:19; 16:16
11For wisdom is better than jewels,8:11 Jb 28:12–19
12I, wisdom, share a home with shrewdness
and have knowledge and discretion.8:12 Pr 1:4
I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct,
and perverse speech.
14I possess good advice and sound wisdom;8:14 Or resourcefulness
I have understanding and strength.8:14 Ec 7:19
and rulers enact just law;
16by me, princes lead,
as do nobles and all righteous judges.8:16 Some Hb mss, LXX read nobles who judge the earth
19My fruit is better than solid gold,
20I walk in the ways of righteousness,
along the paths of justice,
21giving wealth as an inheritance to those who love me,
and filling their treasuries.
at the beginning of his creation,8:22 Lit way
before his works of long ago.8:22 Gn 1:1; Jb 28:26–28; Ps 104:24
23I was formed8:23 Or consecrated before ancient times,
24I was born
and no springs filled with water.
25Before the mountains were established,
prior to the hills,8:25 Ps 90:2 I was given birth —
26before he made the land, the fields,
or the first soil on earth.
when he laid out the horizon on the surface of the ocean,8:27 Jb 26:10
28when he placed the skies above,
when the fountains of the ocean gushed out,
29when he set a limit for the sea
so that the waters would not violate his command,8:29 Jb 38:8–11; Ps 104:9
30I was a skilled craftsman8:30 Or a confidant, or a child, or was constantly beside him.8:30 Jb 28:20–27; 38–39; Pr 3:19–20; Jr 10:12; 51:15; Zch 13:7; Jn 1:2–3
I was his8:30 LXX; MT omits his delight every day,
always rejoicing before him.
delighting in the children of Adam.8:31 Heb 2:6–8
32“And now, sons, listen to me;
those who keep my ways are happy.8:32 Ps 119:1–2; 128:1; Lk 11:28
don’t ignore it.
watching at my doors every day,
waiting by the posts of my doorway.
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