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- ¶ THEREFORE preach wisdom, and understanding will answer you.
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- For wisdom is on the top of high places, she stands between the ways and by the paths.
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- She cries at the gates, at the entrance of the city;
she cries aloud, saying,
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- Unto you, O men, I call;
and my voice is to the sons of men,
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- So that the simple ones may understand prudence and the fools understand in their heart.
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- Hear, for I will speak truth;
and the opening of my mouth shall bring forth uprightness.
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- For my mouth shall speak truth, and lying lips are an abomination before me.
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- All the words of my mouth are in righteousness;
there is nothing perverse or deceptive in them.
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- They are all plain to him who understands them, and right to those who are willing to find knowledge.
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- Receive discipline and not silver;
and choose for yourself knowledge rather than fine gold.
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- For wisdom is much better than fine gold;
yea, she is better than precious stones, and nothing can be compared to her.
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- ¶ I wisdom have created prudence, and I posses knowledge and reason.
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- Reverence of the LORD despises evil;
pride, arrogance, evil ways, and perverse speech do I hate.
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- counsel and sound doctrine are mine;
mine is understanding and might.
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- By me kings reign and princes decree justice.
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- By me princes and nobles rule, even all the righteous judges of the earth.
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- I love those who love me;
and those who seek me shall find me.
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- Riches and honor are mine;
yea, enduring riches and righteousness.
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- My fruit is better than fine gold, and my ingathering than choice silver.
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- I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice,
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- That I may cause those that love me to have hope;
and I will fill their treasuries.
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- ¶ The LORD created me as the first of his creations, before all of his works.
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- I was established from everlasting, from the beginning, before he made the earth.
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- When there were no depths, I was brought forth;
when there were no fountains abounding with water.
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- Before the mountains were settled, before the hills were formed was I conceived;
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- While as yet he had not made the earth nor the valleys nor the best soil of the world.
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- When he established the heavens, I was there;
when he set a circle upon the face of the deep;
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- When he made firm the clouds above;
when he strengthened the fountains of the deep;
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- When he gave to the sea its bounds, that the waters should not transgress his commandment;
when he laid down the foundations of the earth:
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- I together with him was establishing them;
and daily I was his delight, rejoicing always before him,
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- Rejoicing in his habitable earth;
and my delights were with the sons of men.
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- ¶ Now therefore hearken to me, O you children;
for blessed is he who keeps my ways.
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- Hear instruction and be wise and do not go astray.
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- Blessed is the man who heeds me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my threshold.
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- For my objectives are the issues of life, they proclaim the will of the LORD.
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- Those who sin against me wrong their own soul;
all those who hate me love death.
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