8 Doesn’t wisdom call out?[ref]

≈Doesn’t understanding raise her voice?

2 On the high places by the road,

≈she stations herself between the paths.

3 By the gates at the main entrance to the city,

≈she calls out loudly into the doorways.

4 “To you, people, I call—

≈my voice is calling all humankind.

5 You naive people must learn to be prudent,

≈and you foolish people must learn to be discerning.

6 Listen because I’ll speak uplifting things,

≈and open my lips about what is right,

7 because my mouth will tell the truth,

≈and my lips detest wickedness.

8 All the words in my mouth are honest—

≈there’s nothing twisted or crooked among them.

9 All of them are straightforward to anyone who understands,

≈and right to those looking for knowledge.

10 Choose my instruction over silver,

≈and knowledge rather than shiny gold,

11 because wisdom is better than jewels,

≈and there’s nothing more desirable than her.

12 I, wisdom, live together with good judgement,

≈and I’m good at finding knowledge and discretion.

13 Those who strive to obey Yahweh, hate evil,

I, wisdom, hate pride and arrogance,

evil activities, and perverse talk.

14 Good advice and sound wisdom are mine.

I have understanding and strength.

15 I enable kings to reign well,

and rulers to administer justice.

16 By me, princes and nobles rule—

judging with impartiality.

17 I love those who love me,

and those who search for me will find me.

18 Riches and honour accompany me—

enduring wealth and fairness.

19 My fruit is better than purest gold,

and my produce is better than choice silver.

…

20 I walk along the road of doing what’s right,

among the pathways that lead to justice,

21 so those who love me can inherit wealth,

as I fill their storerooms.

22 Yahweh created me among his first actions—

at the beginning of his works long ago.[ref]

23 I was established from eternity—

before the beginnings of the world.

24 I was revealed before the deep oceans existed,

when there weren’t yet any springs gushing water.

25 Before the mountains were set into place,

and before the hills were seen, I was revealed.

26 yes, even before he made the earth and fields,

or the first dust on the ground.

27 I was there:

• when Yahweh made the skies,
• when he inscribed the horizon circle above the oceans,
• 28 when he pressed the clouds into shape,
• when he established the springs way down in the oceans.
• 29 when he determined the boundaries of the oceans so that the waters wouldn’t go past his line,
• when he marked out the earth’s foundations.

30 I was beside him as a skilled craftsman—

He enjoyed my company every day,

≈playing in his presence all the time.

31 I was enjoying playing in his world,

and enjoying humankind’s descendants.

32 So now my children, listen to me

because those who follow my ways will find happiness.

33 Listen when you’re corrected

and don’t neglect wisdom.

34 People who listen to me will be blessed

keeping watch on my doors every day—guarding my doorway,

35 because whoever finds me, finds life

and obtains favour from Yahweh.

36 Whoever misses finding me harms themself,

and those who hate me, love death.