28 And he said to the human race,
    “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom,
    and to shun evil(A) is understanding.”(B)

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28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

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Wisdom’s Rebuke

20 Out in the open wisdom calls aloud,(A)
    she raises her voice in the public square;

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20 Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:

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13 Blessed are those who find wisdom,
    those who gain understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver
    and yields better returns than gold.(A)
15 She is more precious than rubies;(B)
    nothing you desire can compare with her.(C)
16 Long life is in her right hand;(D)
    in her left hand are riches and honor.(E)
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
    and all her paths are peace.(F)
18 She is a tree of life(G) to those who take hold of her;
    those who hold her fast will be blessed.(H)

19 By wisdom(I) the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,(J)
    by understanding he set the heavens(K) in place;
20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
    and the clouds let drop the dew.

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13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.

17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

19 The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

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Wisdom’s Call

Does not wisdom call out?(A)
    Does not understanding raise her voice?

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Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?

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Invitations of Wisdom and Folly

Wisdom has built(A) her house;
    she has set up[a] its seven pillars.
She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;(B)
    she has also set her table.(C)
She has sent out her servants, and she calls(D)
    from the highest point of the city,(E)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:1 Septuagint, Syriac and Targum; Hebrew has hewn out

Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:

She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.

She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,

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24 Whatever exists is far off and most profound—
    who can discover it?(A)

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24 That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?

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