The Invitation and the Rewards of Wisdom

Wisdom’s Appeal to Men

8 Listen! Wisdom is calling,

and Reason is lifting her voice:

2 on a raised place, high by the way.

on the streets she has taken her stand.

3 By the gates that lead into the city.

She cries aloud at the portals:

4 ‘to you, O men, I call.

And my voice is to all mankind.

5 You simple ones, learn to be prudent;

You foolish ones, get to know wisdom.

6 O listen, for grave is my message.

And right all the speech of my lips.

7 It is truth that my mouth discourses,

And falsehood my lips abhor.

8 All the words that I utter are honest.

Free from all that is crooked and tortuous,

9 All clear to the man of sense,

and right to those that have knowledge.

10 Choose instruction, then, rather than silver,

and more than choice gold welcome knowledge.

11 For better is Wisdom than corals;

no treasures with her can compare.

12 I, Wisdom, possess intelligence;

knowledge and insight are mine.

14 Mine are counsel and skill;

understanding and might are mine.

15 By me do monarchs reign

and rulers administer justice,

16 By me do princes govern

and noblemen rule the earth.

17 Those that love me I love,

and those that seek me find me.

18 With me are riches and honour,

prosperity and grandeur.

19 My fruit is better than finest gold,

my revenue fairer than choicest silver.

20 I walk in the way that is fair,

and keep to the paths of justice,

21 endowing with wealth those that love me,

and filling their treasuries full.

Wisdom’s Ancient Origin

22 At the very beginning God fashioned me

as the first of His works of old.

23 In the ancient time was I formed,

at the first, when the world began.

24 I was born when as yet no depths were,

no fountains laden with water;

25 Ere yet the mountains were sunk,

and before the hills was I born;

26 Ere the earth and the fields were created,

or the first of the clods of the world.

27 When He set up the heavens, I was there;

when He vaulted the face of the deep;

28 When He made firm the skies above,

and fixed the deep fast at its sources;

29 When He set to the sea its bounds,

as He marked off the base of the world.

30 Then beside Him was I as His nursling,

and I was His daily delight,

playing before Him at all times,

31 playing about in His world.

delighting in humankind.

Wisdom’s Concluding Appeal

32 And now, children, listen to me:

happy those that keep to my ways.

33 Hear instruction, and thus get wisdom.

Do not reject my admonition.

34 Happy he who listens to me,

daily watching at my gates,

and waiting at my door-posts.

35 For who finds me finds life,

he wins the Lord’s own favour;

36 but who misses me wrongs himself,

for all that hate me love death.