Proverbs 8
1 Does not wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice?
Doth not wisdom call, and understanding put forth her voice?
2 On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads she takes her stand.
In the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she standeth;
3 Beside the gates to the city, at the entrances she cries out:
Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud:
4 “To you, O men, I call out, and my cry is to the sons of men.
'Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.
5 O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding.
O ye thoughtless, understand prudence, and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
6 Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right.
Hear, for I will speak excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
7 For my mouth will speak the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips.
For my mouth shall utter truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are righteous; none are crooked or perverse.
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness, there is nothing perverse or crooked in them.
9 They are all plain to the discerning, and upright to those who find knowledge.
They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
10 Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.
Receive my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her.
For wisdom is better than rubies, and all things desirable are not to be compared unto her.
12 I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.
I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of devices.
13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength.
Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine.
15 By me kings reign, and rulers enact just laws;
By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16 By me princes rule, and all nobles who govern justly.
By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.
I love them that love me, and those that seek me earnestly shall find me.
18 With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and righteousness.
Riches and honour are with me; yea, enduring riches and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, pure gold, and my harvest surpasses choice silver.
My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my produce than choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice;
21 bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.
That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, and that I may fill their treasuries.
22 The LORD created me as His first course, before His works of old.
The LORD made me as the beginning of His way, the first of His works of old.
23 From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began.
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
24 When there were no watery depths, I was brought forth, when no springs were overflowing with water.
When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth,
Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth;
26 before He made the land or fields, or any of the dust of the earth.
While as yet He had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of 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 established the heavens, I was there; when He set a circle upon the face of the deep,
28 when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth,
When He made firm the skies above, when the fountains of the deep showed their might,
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 gave to the sea His decree, that the waters should not transgress His commandment, when He appointed the foundations 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 Him, as a nursling; and I was daily all delight, playing always before Him,
31 I was rejoicing in His whole world, delighting together in the sons of men.
Playing in His habitable earth, and my delights are 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 unto me; for happy are they that keep my ways.
33 Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.
Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
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 that hearkeneth to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 For whoever finds me finds life and obtains the favor of the LORD.
For whoso findeth me findeth life, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
36 But he who fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.”
But he that misseth me wrongeth his own soul; all they that hate me love death.'
