1 Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? 2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths. 3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors. 4 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man. 5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. 6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. 7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them. 9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge. 10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. 11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions. 13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. 14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength. 15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. 16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth. 17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. 18 Riches and honour are with me; yea , durable riches and righteousness. 19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. 20 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: 21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. 23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. 24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: 26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. 27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: 28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: 29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: 30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; 31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. 33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. 34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. 35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. 36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
1 numquid non sapientia clamitat et prudentia dat vocem suam
2 in summis excelsisque verticibus
super viam in mediis semitis stans
3 iuxta portas civitatis in ipsis foribus loquitur dicens
4 o viri ad vos clamito et vox mea ad filios hominum
5 intellegite parvuli astutiam et insipientes animadvertite
6 audite quoniam de rebus magnis locutura sum
et aperientur labia mea ut recta praedicent
7 veritatem meditabitur guttur meum
et labia mea detestabuntur impium
8 iusti sunt omnes sermones mei
non est in eis pravum quid neque perversum
9 recti sunt intellegentibus et aequi invenientibus scientiam
10 accipite disciplinam meam et non pecuniam
doctrinam magis quam aurum eligite
11 melior est enim sapientia cunctis pretiosissimis
et omne desiderabile ei non potest conparari
12 ego sapientia habito in consilio
et eruditis intersum cogitationibus
13 timor Domini odit malum
arrogantiam et superbiam et viam pravam et os bilingue detestor
14 meum est consilium et aequitas
mea prudentia mea est fortitudo
15 per me reges regnant et legum conditores iusta decernunt
16 per me principes imperant et potentes decernunt iustitiam
17 ego diligentes me diligo et qui mane vigilant ad me invenient me
18 mecum sunt divitiae et gloria
opes superbae et iustitia
19 melior est fructus meus auro et pretioso lapide
et genimina mea argento electo
20 in viis iustitiae ambulo in medio semitarum iudicii
21 ut ditem diligentes me et thesauros eorum repleam
22 Dominus possedit me initium viarum
suarum
antequam quicquam faceret a principio
23 ab aeterno ordita sum et ex antiquis
antequam terra fieret
24 necdum erant abyssi et ego iam concepta eram
necdum fontes aquarum eruperant
25 necdum montes gravi mole constiterant
ante colles ego parturiebar
26 adhuc terram non fecerat et flumina et cardines orbis terrae
27 quando praeparabat caelos aderam
quando certa lege et gyro vallabat abyssos
28 quando aethera firmabat sursum et librabat fontes aquarum
29 quando circumdabat mari terminum suum
et legem ponebat aquis ne transirent fines suos
quando adpendebat fundamenta terrae
30 cum eo eram cuncta conponens
et delectabar per singulos dies ludens coram eo omni tempore
31 ludens in orbe terrarum
et deliciae meae esse cum filiis hominum
32 nunc ergo filii audite me
beati qui custodiunt vias meas
33 audite disciplinam et estote sapientes et nolite abicere eam
34 beatus homo qui audit me
qui vigilat ad fores meas cotidie
et observat ad postes ostii mei
35 qui me invenerit inveniet vitam et hauriet salutem a Domino
36 qui autem in me peccaverit laedet animam suam
omnes qui me oderunt diligunt mortem