⁵⁵ “Where, O death, is your victory?
    Where, O death, is your sting?”^[d](AG)

¹² “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
    I possess knowledge and discretion.^(J)
13 To fear the Lord^(K) is to hate evil;^(L)
    I hate^(M) pride and arrogance,
    evil behavior and perverse speech.
¹⁴ Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
    I have insight, I have power.^(N)
15 By me kings reign
    and rulers^(O) issue decrees that are just;
¹⁶ by me princes govern,^(P)
    and nobles—all who rule on earth.^[b]
17 I love those who love me,^(Q)
    and those who seek me find me.^(R)
18 With me are riches and honor,^(S)
    enduring wealth and prosperity.^(T)
19 My fruit is better than fine gold;^(U)
    what I yield surpasses choice silver.^(V)
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,^(W)
    along the paths of justice,
²¹ bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me
    and making their treasuries full.^(X)

²² “The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works,^[c][d]
    before his deeds of old;
²³ I was formed long ages ago,
    at the very beginning, when the world came to be.
²⁴ When there were no watery depths, I was given birth,
    when there were no springs overflowing with water;^(Y)
25 before the mountains were settled in place,^(Z)
    before the hills, I was given birth,^(AA)
26 before he made the world or its fields
    or any of the dust of the earth.^(AB)
27 I was there when he set the heavens in place,^(AC)
    when he marked out the horizon^(AD) on the face of the deep,
²⁸ when he established the clouds above^(AE)
    and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,^(AF)
29 when he gave the sea its boundary^(AG)
    so the waters would not overstep his command,^(AH)
and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.^(AI)
30     Then I was constantly^[e] at his side.^(AJ)
I was filled with delight day after day,
    rejoicing always in his presence,
³¹ rejoicing in his whole world
    and delighting in mankind.^(AK)

³² “Now then, my children, listen^(AL) to me;
    blessed are^(AM) those who keep my ways.^(AN)
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise;
    do not disregard it.
³⁴ Blessed are those who listen^(AO) to me,
    watching daily at my doors,
    waiting at my doorway.
³⁵ For those who find me^(AP) find life^(AQ)
    and receive favor from the Lord.^(AR)
36 But those who fail to find me harm themselves;^(AS)
    all who hate me love death.”^(AT)

⁷ Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults;
    whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.^(BF)
8 Do not rebuke mockers^(BG) or they will hate you;
    rebuke the wise and they will love you.^(BH)
9 Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;
    teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.^(BI)

¹⁰ The fear of the Lord^(BJ) is the beginning of wisdom,
    and knowledge of the Holy One^(BK) is understanding.^(BL)
11 For through wisdom^[g] your days will be many,
    and years will be added to your life.^(BM)
12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you;
    if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.

¹³ Folly is an unruly woman;^(BN)
    she is simple and knows nothing.^(BO)
14 She sits at the door of her house,
    on a seat at the highest point of the city,^(BP)
15 calling out^(BQ) to those who pass by,
    who go straight on their way,
¹⁶     “Let all who are simple come to my house!”
To those who have no sense^(BR) she says,
¹⁷     “Stolen water is sweet;
    food eaten in secret is delicious!^(BS)”
¹⁸ But little do they know that the dead are there,
    that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.^(BT)