9. These things are clear to any intelligent person. They are right to anyone with knowledge.
10. Choose discipline over silver and knowledge over the finest gold.
11. Wisdom is better than pearls, and nothing you desire compares with her.
12. “I am Wisdom. I live with Good Judgment. I am at home with Knowledge and Planning.
13. To respect the Lord means to hate evil. I hate pride and boasting, evil lives and hurtful words.
14. I have good advice and common sense to offer. I have understanding and power.
15. With my help kings rule, and governors make good laws.
16. With my help leaders govern, and important officials make good decisions.
17. I love those who love me, and those who look for me will find me.
18. With me there are riches and honor. I have lasting wealth to give to you.
19. What I give is better than fine gold. What I produce is better than pure silver.
20. I lead people the right way— along the paths of justice.
21. I give riches to those who love me, and I fill their houses with treasures.
22. “The Lord made me in the beginning, long before he did anything else.
23. I was formed a long time ago, before the world was made.
24. I was born before there was an ocean, before the springs began to flow.
25. I was born before the mountains and hills were set into place,
26. before the earth and fields were made, before the dust of this world was formed.
27. I was there when he set up the skies, when he drew a circle in the ocean to make a place for the land.
28. I was there when he put the clouds in the sky and made the deep springs flow.
29. I was there when he set the limits on the sea to make it stop where he said. I was there when he laid the foundations of the earth.