1  ^jDoes not wisdom call?

Does not understanding raise her voice?

2  ^kOn the heights beside the way,

at the crossroads she takes her stand;

3  beside the gates in front of the town,

at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:

4  “To you, O men, I call,

and my cry is to the children of man.

5  O ^lsimple ones, learn prudence;

O fools, ^mlearn sense.

6  Hear, for I will speak noble things,

and from my lips will come what is right,

7  for my mouth will utter truth;

wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

8  All the words of my mouth are righteous;

there is nothing twisted or ⁿcrooked in them.

9  They are all straight to him who understands,

and right to those who find knowledge.

10  ^oTake my ^pinstruction instead of ^qsilver,

and knowledge rather than choice gold,

11  for wisdom is ^rbetter than jewels,

and ^sall that you may desire cannot compare with her.