Proverbs 8
1 Does not wisdom cry out? Does not understanding raise her voice?
Doth not wisdom cry aloud, And understanding put forth her voice?
2 On the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she stands.
Upon the top of the high places, By the wayside, In the cross-ways, She taketh her station.
3 Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entry doors, she cries aloud:
By the side of the gates, In the entrance of the city, In the approaches to the doors, she crieth aloud.
4 “I call to you men! I send my voice to the sons of mankind.
“To you, O men! do I call, And my voice is to the sons of men!
5 You simple, understand prudence! You fools, be of an understanding heart!
O ye simple ones! learn wisdom, And ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart!
6 Hear, for I will speak excellent things. The opening of my lips is for right things.
Hear, for I speak excellent things, And my lips utter that which is right.
7 For my mouth speaks truth. Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
For my mouth speaketh truth, And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness. There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
All the words of my mouth are in uprightness; There is nothing crooked or deceitful in them;
9 They are all plain to him who understands, right to those who find knowledge.
They are all plain to the man of understanding, And right to those who find knowledge.
10 Receive my instruction rather than silver, knowledge rather than choice gold.
Receive my instruction, and not silver. And knowledge rather than choice gold!
11 For wisdom is better than rubies. All the things that may be desired cannot be compared to it.
For wisdom is better than pearls, And no precious things are to be compared with her.
12 “I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling. Find out knowledge and discretion.
“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And find out the knowledge of sagacious counsels.
13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, And the deceitful mouth, do I hate.
14 Counsel and sound knowledge are mine. I have understanding and power.
Counsel is mine, and sound reason; I am understanding; I have strength.
15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
By me kings reign, And princes decree justice.
16 By me princes rule, nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth.
By me princes rule, And nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17 I love those who love me. Those who seek me diligently will find me.
I love them that love me, And they who seek me early shall find me.
18 With me are riches, honor, enduring wealth, and prosperity.
Riches and honor are with me; Yea, durable riches and prosperity.
19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, my yield than choice silver.
My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold. And my revenue than choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness, in the middle of the paths of justice,
I walk in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of equity.
21 that I may give wealth to those who love me. I fill their treasuries.
I cause those who love me to possess substance; Yea, I fill their treasuries.
22 “The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his work, before his deeds of old.
“The LORD created me, the firstling of his course, Before his works, of old;
23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, before the earth existed.
I was anointed from everlasting, From the beginning, even before the earth was made.
24 When there were no depths, I was born, when there were no springs abounding with water.
When as yet there were no deeps, I was brought forth. When there were no springs, abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was born;
Before the mountains were settled, Yea, before the hills, I was brought forth;
26 while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
Ere yet he had made the land and the wastes, And the first of the clods of the earth.
27 When he established the heavens, I was there. When he set a circle on the surface of the deep,
When he framed the heavens, I was there; When he drew a circle upon the face of the deep;
28 when he established the clouds above, when the springs of the deep became strong,
When he made firm the sky above, And the fountains of the deep rushed forth;
29 when he gave to the sea its boundary, that the waters should not violate his commandment, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
When he gave to the sea its bounds, that the waters should not pass their border; When he marked out the foundations of the earth, —
30 then I was the craftsman by his side. I was a delight day by day, always rejoicing before him,
Then was I by him as a master-builder; I was his delight day by day, Exulting before him at all times;
31 rejoicing in his whole world. My delight was with the sons of men.
Exulting in the habitable part of his earth, And my delight was with the sons of men.
32 “Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
“Now, therefore, ye children, hearken to me! For happy are they who keep my ways!
33 Hear instruction, and be wise. Do not refuse it.
Hear instruction, and be wise! Yea, reject it not!
34 Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my door posts.
Happy the man who hearkeneth to me, Who watcheth day by day at my gates, Who waiteth at the posts of my doors;
35 For whoever finds me finds life, and will obtain favor from the LORD.
For he that findeth me findeth life, And obtaineth favor from the LORD;
36 But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death.”
But he who misseth me doeth violence to himself; All they who hate me love death.”
