The Excellence of Wisdom
Does not wisdom call out, Pro 1:20-21Mat 3:3Jhn 7:37Act 1:8Pro 9:1-3Isa 49:1-6Isa 55:1-3Luk 24:47
and understanding raise her voice?
On the heights overlooking the road, Pro 9:14Pro 9:3
at the crossroads she takes her stand.
Beside the gates to the city, Job 29:7Act 5:20Jhn 18:20Luk 14:21-23Mat 22:9
at the entrances she cries out:
“To you, O men, I call out, Mat 11:15Jhn 3:16Psa 49:1-3Psa 50:1Rev 22:171Ti 2:4-62Co 5:19-20Col 1:23
and my cry is to the sons of men.
O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; Pro 1:22Act 26:18Pro 9:4Rev 3:17-181Co 6:9-11Pro 1:4Psa 19:71Co 1:28
O fools, gain understanding. 1
Listen, for I speak of noble things, Col 1:26Mat 7:28-29Mat 13:35Pro 4:2Pro 23:161Co 2:6-7Job 33:1-3Mat 5:2-12
and the opening of my lips will reveal right.
For my mouth will speak the truth, Psa 37:30Jhn 8:14Jhn 17:17Pro 12:22Jhn 1:17Jhn 18:37Jhn 8:45-46Job 36:4
and wickedness is detestable to my lips.
All the words of my mouth are righteous; Jhn 7:46Pro 8:13Psa 12:6Deu 32:5Isa 45:23Isa 63:1
none are crooked or perverse.
They are all plain to the discerning, Pro 14:6Jas 1:5Jhn 7:17Jhn 6:45Psa 25:12-14Mat 13:11-12Pro 15:24Pro 18:1-2
and upright to those who find knowledge.
Receive my instruction instead of silver, Pro 2:4-5Psa 119:127Psa 119:72Pro 23:23Pro 3:13-15Act 3:6Ecc 7:11Pro 10:20
and knowledge rather than pure gold.
For wisdom is more precious than rubies, Pro 3:14-15Pro 4:5-7Pro 16:16Psa 119:127Psa 19:10Job 28:15-19Mat 16:26Pro 20:15
and nothing you desire compares with her.
I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, Isa 28:26Exo 35:30Exo 31:3-6Pro 1:4Rom 11:331Ch 28:19Col 2:3Eph 1:11
and I find knowledge and discretion.
To fear the LORD is to hate evil; Psa 97:10Pro 16:61Sa 2:3Pro 4:241Th 5:221Pe 5:5Amo 5:15Psa 119:128
I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.
Counsel and sound judgment are mine; Ecc 7:19Isa 9:6Isa 40:14Rom 11:33-34Col 2:3Ecc 9:16-18Pro 2:6-7Pro 24:5
I have insight and strength.
By me kings reign, Rom 13:1Dan 2:21Mat 28:18Rev 19:16Dan 4:32Dan 5:18-31Dan 7:13-14Jer 27:5-7
and rulers enact just laws;
By me princes rule,
and all nobles who govern justly. 2
I love those who love me, Jhn 14:23Jhn 14:21Psa 91:14Isa 55:61Jn 4:191Sa 2:30Mat 7:7-8Mat 6:33
and those who seek me early shall find me.
With me are riches and honor, Pro 3:16Mat 6:33Luk 16:11-12Php 4:19Eph 3:8Luk 10:42Rev 3:181Ti 6:17-19
enduring wealth and righteousness.
My fruit is better than gold, pure gold, Pro 10:20Pro 3:14Ecc 7:12Pro 8:10
and my harvest surpasses choice silver.
I walk in the way of righteousness, Jhn 10:27-28Deu 5:32Psa 32:8Pro 4:11-12Isa 2:3Pro 3:6Pro 6:22Psa 25:4-5
along the paths of justice,
bestowing wealth on those who love me 1Pe 1:4Pro 24:4Gen 15:14Mat 25:461Sa 2:8Heb 10:34Pro 1:13Psa 16:11
and making their treasuries full.
The LORD created me as His first course, 3 Col 1:17Jhn 1:1-2Pro 3:19Psa 104:24Job 28:26-28
before His works of old.
From everlasting I was established, Jhn 17:24Gen 1:26Jhn 17:5Mic 5:2Psa 2:61Jn 1:1-2Eph 1:10-11
from the beginning, before the earth began.
When there were no watery depths, I was brought forth, 1Jn 4:9Pro 3:20Gen 1:2Heb 1:5Jhn 1:14Jhn 3:16Jhn 5:20Psa 2:7
when no springs were overflowing with water.
Before the mountains were settled, Psa 90:2Job 15:7-8Job 38:4-11Psa 102:25-28Heb 1:10
before the hills, I was brought forth,
before He made the land or fields, Gen 1:1-31
or any of the dust of the earth.
I was there when He established the heavens, Isa 40:22Job 26:10Pro 3:19Col 1:16Psa 136:5Isa 40:11Jer 10:12Heb 1:2
when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,
when He established the clouds above,
when the fountains of the deep gushed forth,
when He set a boundary for the sea, Psa 104:9Jer 5:22Gen 1:9-10Psa 104:5Psa 33:7Job 38:4-11
so that the waters would not surpass His command,
when He marked out the foundations of the earth.
Then I was a skilled craftsman at His side, Jhn 1:1-3Jhn 1:18Mat 3:17Isa 42:1Jhn 12:28Jhn 16:28Col 1:13Mat 17:5
and His delight 4day by day,
rejoicing always in His presence.
I was rejoicing in His whole world, Psa 16:3Jhn 13:1Psa 40:6-82Co 8:9Jhn 4:34
delighting together in the sons of men.
Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, Luk 11:28Psa 119:1-2Psa 1:1-4Psa 128:1Pro 5:7Pro 7:24
for blessed are those who keep my ways.
Listen to instruction and be wise; Pro 4:1Psa 81:11-12Pro 1:8Pro 5:1Pro 1:2-3Rom 10:16-17Heb 12:25Isa 55:1-3
do not ignore it.
Blessed is the man who listens to me, Luk 11:28Mat 7:24Pro 3:13Act 2:42Luk 10:39Psa 27:4Act 17:11-12Psa 84:10
watching daily at my doors,
waiting at the posts of my doorway.
For whoever finds me finds life Jhn 3:361Jn 5:11-12Pro 12:2Php 3:8Jhn 17:3Col 3:3Pro 3:13-18Jhn 14:6
and obtains the favor of the LORD.
But he who fails to find me harms himself; Pro 15:32Pro 1:311Co 16:22Jhn 15:23-24Pro 12:1Pro 20:2Heb 10:29Jhn 3:19-20
all who hate me love death.”