1Wisdom praises herself

and tells of her glory in the midst of her people.*

2In the assembly of the Most High she opens her mouth,

and in the presence of his hosts she tells of her glory:

3“I came forth from the mouth of the Most High

and covered the earth like a mist.*

4I encamped in the heights,

and my throne was in a pillar of cloud.*

5Alone I compassed the vault of heaven

and traversed the depths of the abyss.*

6Over waves of the sea, over all the earth,

and over every people and nation I have held sway.g^,*

7Among all these I sought a resting place;

in whose inheritance should I abide?

8“Then the Creator of all things gave me a command,

and my Creator pitched my tent.

He said, ‘Encamp in Jacob,

and in Israel receive your inheritance.’*

9Before the ages, in the beginning, he created me,

and for all the ages I shall not cease to be.*

10In the holy tent I ministered before him,

and so I was established in Zion.*

11Thus in the beloved city he gave me a resting place,

and in Jerusalem was my domain.*

12I took root in an honored people;

in the portion of the Lord is my inheritance.*

13“I grew tall like a cedar in Lebanon

and like a cypress on the heights of Hermon.*

14I grew tall like a palm tree in En-gedih

and like rosebushes in Jericho;

like a fair olive tree in the field

and like a plane tree beside wateri I grew tall.*

15Like cassia and camel’s thorn I gave forth perfume,

and like choice myrrh I spread my fragrance,

like galbanum, onycha, and stacte,

and like the odor of incense in the tent.*

16Like a terebinth I spread out my branches,

and my branches are glorious and graceful.

17Like the vine I bud forth delights,

and my blossoms become glorious and abundant fruit.j^,*

19“Come to me, you who desire me,

and eat your fill of my fruits.*

20For the memory of me is sweeter than honey

and the possession of me sweeter than the honeycomb.*

21Those who eat of me will hunger for more,

and those who drink of me will thirst for more.

22Whoever obeys me will not be put to shame,

and those who work with me will not sin.”

23All this is the book of the covenant of the Most High God,

the law that Moses commanded us

as an inheritance for the congregations of Jacob.k^,*

25It becomes full, like the Pishon, with wisdom

and like the Tigris at the time of the spring harvest.*

26It fills up, like the Euphrates, with understanding,

and like the Jordan at harvest time.*

27It pours forth instruction like the Nile,l

like the Gihon at the time of vintage.*

28The first man did not know wisdomm fully,

nor will the last one fathom her.

29For her thoughts are more abundant than the sea

and her counsel deeper than the great abyss.

30I came forth like a canal from a river,

like a water channel into a garden.

31I said, “I will water my garden

and drench my flower beds.”

And look, my canal became a river

and my river a sea.*

32I will again make instruction shine forth like the dawn,

and I will make it clear from far away.

33I will again pour out teaching like prophecy

and leave it to all future generations.*

34Observe that I have not labored for myself alone

but for all who seek wisdom.n^,*