8 Isn’t Lady Wisdom calling?
    Listen; don’t you hear the voice of understanding crying out?
² She’s taken her stand at the highest place in the city,
    at the crossroads where everyone can see her.
³ There, and at the gates, at the entrance to the city,
    right in front of the city doors she cries out:

⁴ Lady Wisdom: O people! I am calling to you;
        I have a message for all humanity.
⁵     You gullible people, acquire insight.
        You naive ones, cultivate a heart that truly understands.
⁶     Listen, for I am about to tell you of unparalleled excellence and beauty;
        what I am about to say will set things right.
⁷     I will only speak the truth;
        I despise evil, so it will not pass through my lips.
⁸     Everything I say promotes justice;
        not one word is crooked, and nothing is distorted.
⁹     Each and every word is straight talk to perceptive people,
        upright and honest to knowledge-seekers.
¹⁰     Accept my correction as being more valuable than your prized possession,
        authentic knowledge more valuable than pure gold.

¹¹ You see, no gem is more precious than Lady Wisdom—
    your most extravagant desire doesn’t come close to her.

¹² Lady Wisdom: I make my home with prudence;
        I obtain knowledge and sound judgment.
¹³     If you respect the Eternal, you will grow to despise evil.
    I despise wretched, vile talk
        and ways of pride and arrogance.
¹⁴     Good counsel is mine, and also true wisdom.
        I am understanding, and strength belongs to me.
¹⁵     It’s because of me that kings wield power
        and authorities decree what is right.
¹⁶     It’s because of me that leaders and their agents govern
        and all judge according to what is right.
¹⁷     I love those who love me;
        those who search hard for me will find me.
¹⁸     Riches and honor are the benefit of following me;
        so are lasting wealth and justice.
¹⁹     My reward is better than gold, even the purest gold;
        and my profit is greater than the highest quality silver.
²⁰     I follow the way of right living.
        Follow me along the path to find justice;
²¹     I’m ready to meet those who love me, bestow true riches upon them,
        and fill up their lives until their treasuries overflow.
²²     The Eternal created me; it happened when His work was beginning,
        one of His first acts long ago.
²³     Before time He established me,
        before the earth saw its first sunrise.
²⁴     I was born before the deep existed,
        before any springs poured out their water,
²⁵     Before the mountains were placed on their foundations,
        before the hills rolled across the land—
        yes, before all this, I was brought forth.
²⁶     When the earth was yet unformed and the fields were not yet nestled beneath the wind—
        even before the first dust of the earth—
²⁷     When He created the heavens, I was there.
        When He drew a circle in the deep, dividing the oceans and the sky, I was there.
²⁸     I was there when He established the sky.
        I was there when the springs in the deep were fortified;
²⁹     I witnessed Him lay down the shore as a boundary
        and put limits on the water
    And determine the foundations of the earth.
³⁰     All this time I was close beside Him, a master craftsman.
        Every day I was His delightful companion,
        celebrating every minute in His presence,
³¹     Elated by the world He was making and all its fine creatures;
    I was especially pleased with humanity.

³²     So now listen to me, my children:
        those who live by my ways will find true happiness.
³³     Pay attention to my guidance, dare to be wise,
        and don’t disregard my teachings.
³⁴     The one who listens to me,
        who carefully seeks me in everyday things
        and delays action until my way is apparent, that one will find true happiness.
³⁵     For when he recognizes and follows me, he finds a peaceful and satisfying life
        and receives favor from the Eternal.
³⁶     But heed my warning: the one who goes against me will only hurt himself,
        for all who despise me are playing with fire and courting death.