Study

The Gifts of Wisdom

 8

Does not wisdom call,

and does not understanding raise her voice?

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On the heights, beside the way,

at the crossroads she takes her stand;

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beside the gates in front of the town,

at the entrance of the portals she cries out:

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“To you, O people, I call,

and my cry is to all that live.

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O simple ones, learn prudence;

acquire intelligence, you who lack it.

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Hear, for I will speak noble things,

and from my lips will come what is right;

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for my mouth will utter truth;

wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

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All the words of my mouth are righteous;

there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.

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They are all straight to one who understands

and right to those who find knowledge.

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Take my instruction instead of silver,

and knowledge rather than choice gold;

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for wisdom is better than jewels,

and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

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I, wisdom, live with prudence,

and I attain knowledge and discretion.

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The fear of the L ord is hatred of evil.

Pride and arrogance and the way of evil

and perverted speech I hate.

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I have good advice and sound wisdom;

I have insight, I have strength.

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By me kings reign,

and rulers decree what is just;

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by me rulers rule,

and nobles, all who govern rightly.

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I love those who love me,

and those who seek me diligently find me.

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Riches and honor are with me,

enduring wealth and prosperity.

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My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold,

and my yield than choice silver.

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I walk in the way of righteousness,

along the paths of justice,

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endowing with wealth those who love me,

and filling their treasuries.

Wisdom’s Part in Creation

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The L ord created me at the beginning of his work,

the first of his acts of long ago.

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Ages ago I was set up,

at the first, before the beginning of the earth.

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When there were no depths I was brought forth,

when there were no springs abounding with water.

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Before the mountains had been shaped,

before the hills, I was brought forth—

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when he had not yet made earth and fields,

or the world’s first bits of soil.

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When he established the heavens, I was there,

when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,

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when he made firm the skies above,

when he established the fountains of the deep,

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when he assigned to the sea its limit,

so that the waters might not transgress his command,

when he marked out the foundations of the earth,

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then I was beside him, like a master worker;

and I was daily his delight,

rejoicing before him always,

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rejoicing in his inhabited world

and delighting in the human race.

 

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“And now, my children, listen to me:

happy are those who keep my ways.

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Hear instruction and be wise,

and do not neglect it.

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Happy is the one who listens to me,

watching daily at my gates,

waiting beside my doors.

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For whoever finds me finds life

and obtains favor from the L ord;

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but those who miss me injure themselves;

all who hate me love death.”