| 1 Wisdom sings her own praises, before her own people she proclaims her glory; |
| 2 In the assembly of the Most High she opens her mouth, in the presence of his hosts she declares her worth: |
| 3 "From the mouth of the Most High I came forth, and mistlike covered the earth. |
| 4 In the highest heavens did I dwell, my throne on a pillar of cloud. |
| 5 The vault of heaven I compassed alone, through the deep abyss I wandered. |
| 6 Over waves of the sea, over all the land, over every people and nation I held sway. |
| 7 Among all these I sought a resting place; in whose inheritance should I abide? |
| 8 "Then the Creator of all gave me his command, and he who formed me chose the spot for my tent, Saying, 'In Jacob make your dwelling, in Israel your inheritance.' |
| 9 Before all ages, in the beginning, he created me, and through all ages I shall not cease to be. |
| 10 In the holy tent I ministered before him, and in Zion I fixed my abode. |
| 11 Thus in the chosen city he has given me rest, in Jerusalem is my domain. |
| 12 I have struck root among the glorious people, in the portion of the LORD, his heritage. |
| 13 "Like a cedar on Lebanon I am raised aloft, like a cypress on Mount Hermon, |
| 14 Like a palm tree in En-gedi, like a rosebush in Jericho, Like a fair olive tree in the field, like a plane tree growing beside the water. |
| 15 Like cinnamon, or fragrant balm, or precious myrrh, I give forth perfume; Like galbanum and onycha and sweet spices, like the odor of incense in the holy place. |
| 16 I spread out my branches like a terebinth, my branches so bright and so graceful. |
| 17 I bud forth delights like the vine, my blossoms become fruit fair and rich. |
| 18 Come to me, all you that yearn for me, and be filled with my fruits; |
| 19 You will remember me as sweeter than honey, better to have than the honeycomb. |
| 20 He who eats of me will hunger still, he who drinks of me will thirst for more; |
| 21 He who obeys me will not be put to shame, he who serves me will never fail." |
| 22 All this is true of the book of the Most High's covenant, the law which Moses commanded us as an inheritance for the community of Jacob. |
| 23 It overflows, like the Pishon, with wisdom-- like the Tigris in the days of the new fruits. |
| 24 It runs over, like the Euphrates, with understanding, like the Jordan at harvest time. |
| 25 It sparkles like the Nile with knowledge, like the Gihon at vintage time. |
| 26 The first man never finished comprehending wisdom, nor will the last succeed in fathoming her. |
| 27 For deeper than the sea are her thoughts; her counsels, than the great abyss. |
| 28 Now I, like a rivulet from her stream, channeling the waters into a garden, |
| 29 Said to myself, "I will water my plants, my flower bed I will drench"; And suddenly this rivulet of mine became a river, then this stream of mine, a sea. |
| 30 Thus do I send my teachings forth shining like the dawn, to become known afar off. |
| 31 Thus do I pour out instruction like prophecy and bestow it on generations to come. |