Does not wisdom call? and understanding put forth her voice?

Does wisdom [(Torah)] not call out [(what follows [verse 4, etc.])] and [does] understanding not give forth its voice?

She stands at the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet.

Atop the heights, overlooking the many-pathed way, it stands.

She cries out at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in of the doors.

Near the gateways, atop the dome [(of the gate, where people sit)], the doored entry-way, it shouts:

To you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.

To you, men, do I call, and I lift my voice to the sons of men.

O you simple, understand prudence: and, you fools, be of an understanding heart.

Simpletons, understand wisdom, and fools, make your hearts understand.

Hear; for I will speak excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be rectitude.

Give ear, for I will speak noble thoughts, and my mouth will open to just words.

For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

For my palate will utter truth, and evil is abominated by my lips.

All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing crooked or perverse in them.

All the words of my mouth are spoken in righteousness; they contain no twisting or perversion.

They are all plain to him that understands, and right to those who find knowledge.

They are all correct to him who understands, and just to the finders of wisdom.

Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.

Take my mussar rather than silver, and knowledge rather than choice fine gold.

For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

For wisdom is better than pearls, and all one's desires cannot compare to it [in worth].

I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and find knowledge and discretion.

I [Torah] am wisdom. I dwell [near] subtlety [(One who has learned Torah is subtle in all matters)]. I provide knowledge for thoughts [(to combat the evil inclination)].

The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the sly mouth I hate.

[(the "mussar" [verse 4]):] The fear of the L-rd is hatred of evil — pride and haughtiness, the path of evil, and a mouth that speaks opposites [of what one thinks]. I hate [all of these].

Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.

With me there is counsel [against the evil inclination] and weakening [of it]. I [give] understanding; with me is strength.

By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.

Through me, kings will rule [(for I teach them the laws and the judgments)], and princes will legislate righteously.

By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

Through me, regents will hold sway, and the lordliest of all those who judge in righteousness.

I love those who love me; and those who seek me early shall find me.

I [(the L-rd)] love its [(Torah's)] lovers, and My probers [i.e., those who probe Me through Torah] shall find Me.

Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.

Wealth and honor are with me [(Torah)]; great fortune, given freely.

My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my produce than choice silver.

My fruits are better than gold and fine gold, and my produce is choicer than silver.

I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice:

I lead [men] in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice.

That I may cause those who love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.

I have much to bequeath to my lovers, and I shall fill their stores.

The Lord created me as the beginning of his way, the first of his works of old.

The L-rd acquired me [(Torah)] (as) the beginning of His way [i.e., before the creation of the universe)], before His deeds of yore.

I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, before ever the earth was.

I was enthroned from the beginning. I am among the first, [(Seven things, Torah among them, preceded the creation of the world)], [among] the precursors of the earth.

When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.

When there were yet no depths, I was formed; when there were no pools rich with water.

Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:

Before the mountains were sunk [(into the waters)]; before the hills, was I formed.

while as yet he had not made the earth, or the fields, or the highest part of the dust of the world.

Before there had been made the land [(Eretz Yisrael)] and its environs [(the other lands)], and the head of the dust of the world [(Adam)].

When he established the heavens, I was there: when he drew a circle over the surface of the deep:

When He prepared the heavens, there was I; when He etched out the globe [of the earth] upon the face of the deep [(as an impassable bound)].

when he established the clouds above: when the fountains of the deep became strong:

When He strengthened the heavens above; when He fortified the basins of the depths.

when he gave to the sea its decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

When He set His statute to the sea [(at the creation, that it split in the time of Moses)], when He etched out the foundations of the earth.

then I was by him, as a nurseling: and I was daily his delight, playing always before him;

I was then His nursling, [His] delight, day [by] day [(two thousand years [the L-rd's "day" being a thousand years] — Torah being created two thousand years before the creation of the universe)], playing before Him at all times.

playing with the universe, his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.

Laughing at the world, His earth, [("laughing" at all the generations of the wicked, from Adam until Noach, and from Noach until Abraham)] and [finding] my delight with the sons of man [(the generations of the desert, which accepted the Torah)].

Now therefore hearken to me, O you children: for happy are they who keep my ways.

And now, children, listen to me — and fortunate are they who heed my ways.

Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

Hear mussar, and grow wise, and do not reject [my mussar].

Happy is the man who hearkens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

Fortunate is the man who gives ear to me, to guard my doors each day [(to enter the house of study and the house of prayer first and to leave last)], to guard my doorposts.

For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains favour of the Lord.

For he who finds me finds life and elicits favor from the L-rd.

But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul: all they who hate me love death.

But he who sins against me despoils his soul; all who hate me love death.