1
הֲלֹא־חָכְמָה תִקְרָא וּתְבוּנָה תִּתֵּן קוֹלָהּ
Doth not wisdom call, and understanding put forth her voice?
Σὺ τὴν σοφίαν κηρύξεις, ἵνα φρόνησίς σοι ὑπακούσῃ.
Thou shalt proclaim wisdom, That understanding may be obedient to thee.
2
בְּרֹאשׁ־מְרוֹמִים עֲלֵי־דָרֶךְ בֵּית נְתִיבוֹת נִצָּבָה
In the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she standeth;
Ἐπὶ γὰρ τῶν ὑψηλῶν ἄκρων ἐστὶν, ἀναμέσον δὲ τῶν τρίβων ἕστηκε.
For she is on lofty eminences, And stands in the midst of the ways.
3
לְיַד־שְׁעָרִים לְפִי־קָרֶת מְבוֹא פְתָחִים תָּרֹנָּה
Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud:
Παρὰ γὰρ πύλαις δυναστῶν παρεδρεύει, ἐν δὲ εἰσόδοις ὑμνεῖται.
For she sits by the gates of princes, And sings in the entrances, [saying],
4
אֲלֵיכֶם אִישִׁים אֶקְרָא וְקוֹלִי אֶל־בְּנֵי אָדָם
'Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.
Ὑμᾶς ὦ ἄνθρωποι παρακαλῶ, καὶ προΐεμαι ἐμὴν φωνὴν υἱοῖς ἀνθρώπων.
You, O men, I exhort; And utter my voice to the sons of men.
5
הָבִינוּ פְתָאיִם עָרְמָה וּכְסִילִים הָבִינוּ לֵב
O ye thoughtless, understand prudence, and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
Νοήσατε ἄκακοι πανουργίαν, οἱ δὲ ἀπαίδευτοι ἔνθεσθε καρδίαν.
O ye simple, understand subtlety, And ye that are untaught, imbibe knowledge.
6
שִׁמְעוּ כִּי־נְגִידִים אֲדַבֵּר וּמִפְתַּח שְׂפָתַי מֵישָׁרִים
Hear, for I will speak excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
Εἰσακούσατέ μου, σεμνὰ γὰρ ἐρῶ, καὶ ἀνοίσω ἀπὸ χειλέων ὀρθά.
Hearken to me; for I will speak solemn [truths]; And will produce right [sayings] from my lips.
7
כִּי־אֱמֶת יֶהְגֶּה חִכִּי וְתוֹעֲבַת שְׂפָתַי רֶשַׁע
For my mouth shall utter truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
Ὅτι ἀλήθειαν μελετήσει ὁ φάρυγξ μου, ἐβδελυγμένα δὲ ἐναντίον ἐμοῦ χείλη ψευδῆ.
For my throat shall meditate truth; And false lips are an abomination before me.
8
בְּצֶדֶק כָּל־אִמְרֵי־פִי אֵין בָּהֶם נִפְתָּל וְעִקֵּשׁ
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness, there is nothing perverse or crooked in them.
Μετὰ δικαιοσύνης πάντα τὰ ῥήματα τοῦ στόματός μου, οὐδὲν ἐαυτοῖς σκολιὸν οὐδὲ στραγγαλιῶδες.
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; There is nothing in them wrong or perverse.
9
כֻּלָּם נְכֹחִים לַמֵּבִין וִישָׁרִים לְמֹצְאֵי דָעַת
They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
Πάντα ἐνώπια τοῖς συνιοῦσι, καὶ ὀρθὰ τοῖς εὑρίσκουσι γνῶσιν.
They are all evident to those that understand, And right to those that find knowledge.
10
קְחוּ־מוּסָרִי וְאַל־כָּסֶף וְדַעַת מֵחָרוּץ נִבְחָר
Receive my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold.
Λάβετε παιδείαν καὶ μὴ ἀργύριον, καὶ γνῶσιν ὑπὲρ χρυσίον δεδοκιμασμένον·
Receive instruction, and not silver; And knowledge rather than tried gold.
11
כִּי־טוֹבָה חָכְמָה מִפְּנִינִים וְכָל־חֲפָצִים לֹא יִשְׁווּ־בָהּ
For wisdom is better than rubies, and all things desirable are not to be compared unto her.
Κρείσσων γὰρ σοφία λίθων πολυτελῶν, πᾶν δὲ τίμιον οὐκ ἄξιον αὐτῆς ἐστιν.
For wisdom is better than precious stones; And no valuable substance is of equal worth with it.
12
אֲנִי־חָכְמָה שָׁכַנְתִּי עָרְמָה וְדַעַת מְזִמּוֹת אֶמְצָא
I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of devices.
Ἐγὼ ἡ σοφία κατεσκήνωσα βουλὴν καὶ γνῶσιν, καὶ ἔννοιαν ἐγὼ ἐπεκαλεσάμην.
I wisdom have dwelt [with] counsel and knowledge, And I have called upon understanding.
13
יִרְאַת יְהוָה שְׂנֹאת רָע גֵּאָה וְגָאוֹן וְדֶרֶךְ רָע וּפִי תַהְפֻּכוֹת שָׂנֵאתִי
The fear of HaShem is to hate evil; pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
Φόβος Κυρίου μισεῖ ἀδικίαν, ὕβριν τε καὶ ὑπερηφανίαν καὶ ὁδοὺς πονηρῶν· μεμίσηκα δὲ ἐγὼ διεστραμμένας ὁδοὺς κακῶν.
The fear of the Lord hates unrighteousness, And insolence, and pride, and the ways of wicked men; And I hate the perverse ways of bad men.
14
לִי־עֵצָה וְתוּשִׁיָּה אֲנִי בִינָה לִי גְבוּרָה
Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine.
Ἐμὴ βουλὴ καὶ ἀσφάλεια, ἐμὴ φρόνησις, ἐμὴ δὲ ἰσχύς.
Counsel and safety are mine: Prudence is mine, and strength is mine.
15
בִּי מְלָכִים יִמְלֹכוּ וְרוֹזְנִים יְחֹקְקוּ צֶדֶק
By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
Διʼ ἐμοῦ βασιλεῖς βασιλεύουσι, καὶ οἱ δυνάσται γράφουσιν δικαιοσύνην.
By me kings reign, And princes decree justice.
16
בִּי שָׂרִים יָשֹׂרוּ וּנְדִיבִים כָּל־שֹׁפְטֵי צֶדֶק
By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
Διʼ ἐμοῦ μεγιστᾶνες μεγαλύνονται, καὶ τύραννοι διʼ ἐμοῦ κρατοῦσι γῆς.
By me nobles become great, And monarchs by me rule over the earth.
17
אֲנִי אהביה אֹהֲבַי אֵהָב וּמְשַׁחֲרַי יִמְצָאֻנְנִי
I love them that love me, and those that seek me earnestly shall find me.
Ἐγὼ τοὺς ἐμὲ φιλοῦντας ἀγαπῶ, οἱ δὲ ἐμὲ ζητοῦντες εὑρήσουσιν.
I love those that love me; And they that seek me shall find [me].
18
עֹשֶׁר־וְכָבוֹד אִתִּי הוֹן עָתֵק וּצְדָקָה
Riches and honour are with me; yea, enduring riches and righteousness.
Πλοῦτος καὶ δόξα ἐμοὶ ὑπάρχει, καὶ κτῆσις πολλῶν καὶ δικαιοσύνη.
Wealth and glory belong to me; Yea, abundant possessions and righteousness.
19
טוֹב פִּרְיִי מֵחָרוּץ וּמִפָּז וּתְבוּאָתִי מִכֶּסֶף נִבְחָר
My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my produce than choice silver.
Βέλτιον ἐμὲ καρπίζεσθαι ὑπὲρ χρυσίον καὶ λίθον τίμιον, τὰ δὲ ἐμὰ γεννήματα κρείσσω ἀργυρίου ἐκλεκτοῦ.
[It is] better to have my fruit than [to have] gold and precious stones; And my produce is better than choice silver.
20
בְּאֹרַח־צְדָקָה אֲהַלֵּך בְּתוֹךְ נְתִיבוֹת מִשְׁפָּט
I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice;
Ἐν ὁδοῖς δικαιοσύνης περιπατῶ, καὶ ἀναμέσον τρίβων δικαιώματος ἀναστρέφομαι·
I walk in ways of righteousness, And [am] conversant with the paths of judgment;
21
לְהַנְחִיל אֹהֲבַי יֵשׁ וְאֹצְרֹתֵיהֶם אֲמַלֵּא
That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, and that I may fill their treasuries.
ἵνα μερίσω τοῖς ἐμὲ ἀγαπῶσιν ὕπαρξιν, καὶ τοὺς θησαυροὺς αὐτῶν ἐμπλήσω ἀγαθῶν· 21aἐὰν ἀναγγείλω ὑμῖν τὰ καθʼ ἡμέραν γινόμενα, μνημονεύσω τὰ ἐξ αἰῶνος ἀριθμῆσαι.
That I may divide substance to them that love me, And may fill their treasures with good things.
22
יְהוָה קָנָנִי רֵאשִׁית דַּרְכּוֹ קֶדֶם מִפְעָלָיו מֵאָז
HaShem made me as the beginning of His way, the first of His works of old.
Κύριος ἔκτισέ με ἀρχὴν ὁδῶν αὐτοῦ εἰς ἔργα αὐτοῦ,
The Lord made me the beginning of his ways for his works.
23
מֵעוֹלָם נִסַּכְתִּי מֵרֹאשׁ מִקַּדְמֵי־אָרֶץ
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
πρὸ τοῦ αἰῶνος ἐθεμελίωσέ με, ἐν ἀρχῇ πρὸ τοῦ τὴν γῆν ποιῆσαι,
He established me before time [was] in the beginning, Before he made the earth:
24
בְּאֵין־תְּהֹמוֹת חוֹלָלְתִּי בְּאֵין מַעְיָנוֹת נִכְבַּדֵּי־מָיִם
When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
καὶ πρὸ τοῦ τὰς ἀβύσσους ποιῆσαι, πρὸ τοῦ προελθεῖν τὰς πηγὰς τῶν ὑδάτων·
even before he made the depths; Before the fountains of water came forth:
25
בְּטֶרֶם הָרִים הָטְבָּעוּ לִפְנֵי גְבָעוֹת חוֹלָלְתִּי
Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth;
Πρὸ τοῦ ὄρη ἑδρασθῆναι, πρὸ δὲ πάντων βουνῶν, γεννᾷ με.
Before the mountains were settled, And before all hills, he begets me.
26
עַד־לֹא עָשָׂה אֶרֶץ וְחוּצוֹת וְרֹאשׁ עָפְרוֹת תֵּבֵל
While as yet He had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
Κύριος ἐποίησε χώρας καὶ ἀοικήτους, καὶ ἄκρα οἰκούμενα τῆς ὑπʼ οὐρανῶν.
The Lord made countries and uninhabited [tracts], And the highest inhabited parts of the world.
27
בַּהֲכִינוֹ שָׁמַיִם שָׁם אָנִי בְּחוּקוֹ חוּג עַל־פְּנֵי תְהוֹם
When He established the heavens, I was there; when He set a circle upon the face of the deep,
Ἡνίκα ἡτοίμαζε τὸν οὐρανὸν, συμπαρήμην αὐτῷ, καὶ ὅτε ἀφώριζε τὸν ἑαυτοῦ θρόνον ἐπʼ ἀνέμων,
When he prepared the heaven, I was present with him; And when he prepared his throne upon the winds:
28
בְּאַמְּצוֹ שְׁחָקִים מִמָּעַל בַּעֲזוֹז עִינוֹת תְּהוֹם
When He made firm the skies above, when the fountains of the deep showed their might,
καὶ ὡς ἰσχυρὰ ἐποίει τὰ ἄνω νέφη, καὶ ὡς ἀσφαλεῖς ἐτίθει πηγὰς τῆς ὑπʼ οὐρανὸν,
And when he strengthened the clouds above; And when he secured the fountains of the earth:
29
בְּשׂוּמוֹ לַיָּם חֻקּוֹ וּמַיִם לֹא יַעַבְרוּ־פִיו בְּחוּקוֹ מוֹסְדֵי אָרֶץ
When He gave to the sea His decree, that the waters should not transgress His commandment, when He appointed the foundations of the earth;
καὶ ὡς ἰσχυρὰ ἐποίει τὰ θεμέλια τῆς γῆς,
And when he strengthened the foundations of the earth:
30
וָאֶהְיֶה אֶצְלוֹ אָמוֹן וָאֶהְיֶה שַׁעֲשֻׁעִים יוֹם יוֹם מְשַׂחֶקֶת לְפָנָיו בְּכָל־עֵת
Then I was by Him, as a nursling; and I was daily all delight, playing always before Him,
ἤμην παρʼ αὐτῷ ἁρμόζουσα· ἐγὼ ἤμην ᾗ προσέχαιρε· καθʼ ἡμέραν δὲ εὐφραινόμην ἐν προσώπῳ αὐτοῦ ἐν παντὶ καιρῷ,
I was by him, suiting [myself to him], I was that wherein he took delight; And daily I rejoiced in his presence continually.
31
מְשַׂחֶקֶת בְּתֵבֵל אַרְצוֹ וְשַׁעֲשֻׁעַי אֶת־בְּנֵי אָדָם
Playing in His habitable earth, and my delights are with the sons of men.
ὅτε ἐνευφραίνετο τὴν οἰκουμένην συντελέσας, καὶ ἐνευφραίνετο ἐν υἱοῖς ἀνθρώπων.
For he rejoiced when he had completed the world, And rejoiced among the children of men.
32
וְעַתָּה בָנִים שִׁמְעוּ־לִי וְאַשְׁרֵי דְּרָכַי יִשְׁמֹרוּ
Now therefore, ye children, hearken unto me; for happy are they that keep my ways.
Νῦν οὖν υἱὲ ἄκουέ μου,
Now then, [my] son, hear me: Blessed is the man who shall hearken to me, And the mortal who shall keep my ways;
33
שִׁמְעוּ מוּסָר וַחֲכָמוּ וְאַל־תִּפְרָעוּ
Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
34
אַשְׁרֵי אָדָם שֹׁמֵעַ לִי לִשְׁקֹד עַל־דַּלְתֹתַי יוֹם יוֹם לִשְׁמֹר מְזוּזֹת פְּתָחָי
Happy is the man that hearkeneth to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
μακάριος ἀνὴρ ὃς εἰσακούσεταί μου, καὶ ἄνθρωπος ὃς τὰς ἐμὰς ὁδοὺς φυλάξει, ἀγρυπνῶν ἐπʼ ἐμαῖς θύραις καθʼ ἡμέραν, τηρῶν σταθμοὺς ἐμῶν εἰσόδων.
Watching daily at my doors, Waiting at the posts of my entrances.
35
כִּי מֹצְאִי מצאי מָצָא חַיִּים וַיָּפֶק רָצוֹן מֵיְהוָה
For whoso findeth me findeth life, and obtaineth favour of HaShem.
Αἱ γὰρ ἔξοδοί μου, ἔξοδοι ζωῆς, καὶ ἑτοιμάζεται θέλησις παρὰ Κυρίου.
For my outgoings are the outgoings of life, And [in them] is prepared favor from the Lord.
36
וְחֹטְאִי חֹמֵס נַפְשׁוֹ כָּל־מְשַׂנְאַי אָהֲבוּ מָוֶת
But he that misseth me wrongeth his own soul; all they that hate me love death.'
Οἱ δὲ ἁμαρτάνοντες εἰς ἐμὲ, ἀσεβοῦσιν εἰς τὰς ἑαυτῶν ψυχὰς, καὶ οἱ μισοῦντές με ἀγαπῶσι θάνατον.
But they that sin against me act wickedly against their own souls: And they that hate me love death.