Proverbs 8
1 Does not wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice?
Is not wisdom crying out, and the voice of knowledge sounding?
2 On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads she takes her stand.
At the top of the highways, at the meeting of the roads, she takes her place;
3 Beside the gates to the city, at the entrances she cries out:
Where the roads go into the town her cry goes out, at the doorways her voice is loud:
4 “To you, O men, I call out, and my cry is to the sons of men.
I am crying out to you, O men; my voice comes to the sons of men.
5 O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding.
Become expert in reason, O you simple ones; you foolish ones, take training to heart.
6 Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right.
Give ear, for my words are true, and my lips are open to give out what is upright.
7 For my mouth will speak the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips.
For good faith goes out of my mouth, and false lips are disgusting to me.
8 All the words of my mouth are righteous; none are crooked or perverse.
All the words of my mouth are righteousness; there is nothing false or twisted in them.
9 They are all plain to the discerning, and upright to those who find knowledge.
They are all true to him whose mind is awake, and straightforward to those who get knowledge.
10 Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.
Take my teaching, and not silver; get knowledge in place of the best gold.
11 For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her.
For wisdom is better than jewels, and all things which may be desired are nothing in comparison with her.
12 I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.
I, wisdom, have made wise behaviour my near relation; I am seen to be the special friend of wise purposes.
13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.
The fear of the Lord is seen in hating evil: pride, a high opinion of oneself, the evil way, and the false tongue, are unpleasing to me.
14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength.
Wise design and good sense are mine; reason and strength are mine.
15 By me kings reign, and rulers enact just laws;
Through me kings have their power, and rulers give right decisions.
16 By me princes rule, and all nobles who govern justly.
Through me chiefs have authority, and the noble ones are judging in righteousness.
17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.
Those who have given me their love are loved by me, and those who make search for me with care will get me.
18 With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and righteousness.
Wealth and honour are in my hands, even wealth without equal and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, pure gold, and my harvest surpasses choice silver.
My fruit is better than gold, even than the best gold; and my increase is more to be desired than silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
I go in the road of righteousness, in the way of right judging:
21 bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.
So that I may give my lovers wealth for their heritage, making their store-houses full.
22 The LORD created me as His first course, before His works of old.
The Lord made me as the start of his way, the first of his works in the past.
23 From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began.
From eternal days I was given my place, from the birth of time, before the earth was.
24 When there were no watery depths, I was brought forth, when no springs were overflowing with water.
When there was no deep I was given birth, when there were no fountains flowing with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth,
Before the mountains were put in their places, before the hills was my birth:
26 before He made the land or fields, or any of the dust of the earth.
When he had not made the earth or the fields or the dust of the world.
27 I was there when He established the heavens, when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,
When he made ready the heavens I was there: when he put an arch over the face of the deep:
28 when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth,
When he made strong the skies overhead: when the fountains of the deep were fixed:
29 when He set a boundary for the sea, so that the waters would not surpass His command, when He marked out the foundations of the earth.
When he put a limit to the sea, so that the waters might not go against his word: when he put in position the bases of the earth:
30 Then I was a skilled craftsman at His side, and His delight day by day, rejoicing always in His presence.
Then I was by his side, as a master workman: and I was his delight from day to day, playing before him at all times;
31 I was rejoicing in His whole world, delighting together in the sons of men.
Playing in 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.
Give ear to me then, my sons: for happy are those who keep my ways.
33 Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.
Take my teaching and be wise; do not let it go.
34 Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway.
Happy is the man who gives ear to me, watching at my doors day by day, keeping his place by the pillars of my house.
35 For whoever finds me finds life and obtains the favor of the LORD.
For whoever gets me gets life, and grace from the Lord will come to him.
36 But he who fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.”
But he who does evil to me, does wrong to his soul: all my haters are in love with death.
