Wisdom Calls Aloud
Wisdom is a person here, shouting in the street where anyone can hear rather than kept among specialists. She claims kings rule by her, then reaches further back, brought forth by our Father before the deep, present as the world was made, delighting in it and in people.
8 1Does not Wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice? 2Atop the heights along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand. 3Beside the gates, at the entrance to the city, at the doorways she cries aloud: 4"To you, all people, I call out; my voice reaches all humanity. 5You who are simple, learn prudence; you who are foolish, gain an understanding heart. 6Listen, for I speak of noble things, and everything I say is right. 7My mouth utters truth, for my lips detest wickedness. 8All the words of my mouth are righteous; none of them is twisted or crooked. 9To the one who understands they are all clear, and right to those who find knowledge. 10Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, 11for wisdom is better than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.
12I, Wisdom—Jesus, the wisdom of our Father—dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. 13The fear of our Father is to hate evil. Pride and arrogance, the evil way, and perverse speech I hate. 14Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding; strength is mine. 15By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just; 16by me princes govern, and nobles—all who rule with justice. 17I love those who love me, and those who search for me find me. 18With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and righteousness. 19My fruit is better than gold, than the finest gold, and what I yield surpasses choice silver. 20I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, 21giving wealth as an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries.
22Our Father brought me forth at the beginning of his way, before his works of old. a a v22 Wisdom — the Son — was brought forth, not made; he is of our Father from all eternity, sharing his life before anything was created. 23From ages past I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began. 24When there were no deep waters I was brought forth, when there were no springs overflowing with water. 25Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth, 26while he had not yet made the earth and its fields, or the first dust of the world. 27When he set the heavens in place, I was there; when he drew a circle over the face of the deep, 28when he set the skies in place above, when he established the springs of the deep, 29when he set for the sea its boundary so the waters would not cross their limits, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, 30then I was beside him as a master craftsman, and I was his daily delight, rejoicing before him always, b b v30 Some ancient versions read 'little child' here instead of 'master craftsman,' picturing Wisdom as a child rejoicing at the Father's side. 31rejoicing in his whole world, and delighting in the human family.
32And now, my children, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways. 33Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it. 34Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doorway. 35For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from our Father. 36But whoever misses me harms his own soul; all who hate me love death."
