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.
Gudrības slavinājums
1 Vai gudrība nesauc,
vai sapratne neceļ balsi?
2 Kalna galā ceļa malā,
krustcelēs tā stājas,
3 pie vārtiem, kas pilsētā ved,
vārtu ejā tā kliedz:
4 jums, vīri, es saucu,
es runāju uz cilvēkdēliem –
5 ņemieties jūs, vientieši, prātu
un jūs, muļķi, gūstiet saprašanu,
6 klausieties, es runāšu cildenas lietas,
kas nāk man pār lūpām, tas – pareizs!
7 Patiesība pie manām aukslējām,
riebj manām lūpām negantība,
8 taisns viss, ko teic mana mute,
nav tur nekā greiza vai viltīga –
9 viss tur taisns tādam, kas saprot,
un pareizs tam, kas atradis zināšanu!
10 Ņemiet manu mācību, ne sudrabu
un labāk zināšanu, ne izcilu zeltu,
11 jo gudrība labāka par pērlēm –
nekas, ko tu vēlētos, nebūs tai līdzīgs!
12 Es, gudrība, mītu atjautai blakus,
ar mani ir zinības un izmanība.
13 Bīties Dieva ir – nīst ļaunu!
Lepnību, augstprātību un ļaunas gaitas,
un nešķīstu muti es nīstu!
14 Man padoms un gudra ziņa,
es – saprašana, man spēks!
15 Ar mani ķēniņi valda
un valdoņi taisnību lemj,
16 ar mani augstmaņi valda
un dižciltīgie – visi taisnie soģi!
17 Kas mani mīl, tos es mīlu,
kas mani meklē, tie mani atradīs.
18 Bagātība un gods nāk man līdzi,
augoša manta un taisns guvums.
19 Mani augļi labāki par zeltu, par tīru zeltu,
un mana raža – par izcilu sudrabu.
20 Taisnības ceļu es staigāju,
turos pie patiesības takām,
21 es dāvāju pārticību tiem, kas mani mīl,
un viņu mantnīcas pildu.
Gudrības līdzdalība radīšanā
(Jņ 1:1–3)22 Kungs mani radīja, sākdams savas gaitas,
es viņam senākā – no tiem laikiem!
23 Mūžsen es darināta,
iesākumā – vēl pirms zemes!
24 Kad vēl nebija dzelmes, es dzimu,
kad nebija avotu, grūsnu ūdens,
25 pirms kalni bija guldīti,
pirms pauguri – es dzimu,
26 kad viņš vēl nebija taisījis
ne zemi, ne āres, ne pasaules pīšļus!
27 Kad viņš uzlika debesis, es biju klāt,
kad novilka apvārsni dzelmei pāri,
28 kad darīja stiprus mākoņus augšā
un spēcināja avotus dzelmē,
29 kad nolika jūrai robežu
un ūdeņi stājās, kur viņš lika,
kad nosprauda zemes pamatus,
30 tad es biju viņam līdzās kā darbiniece
un iepriecinājums diendienā,
es līksmojos viņa priekšā vislaik,
31 es līksmojos viņa pasaules lokā
un mans prieks – ar cilvēka dēliem.
32 Un nu, dēli, klausieties manī –
svētīts, kas staigā manus ceļus! –
33 Uzklausiet pamācības un topiet gudri –
neatmetiet tās!
34 Svētīts, kas klausās manī,
kas diendienā gaida pie manām durvīm,
35 jo, kas rod mani, rod dzīvību
un iemanto labvēlību no Kunga!
36 Bet, kas mani atmet, dara sev pāri –
tie, kas nīst mani, mīl nāvi!
