Proverbs 8
1 Does not wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice?
Behold, wisdom calleth, and understanding sendeth forth her voice,
2 On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads she takes her stand.
On the top of high places, by the wayside, at the house where there are [many] paths doth she place herself.
3 Beside the gates to the city, at the entrances she cries out:
Alongside of gates, at the opening of the city, at the entrance of the town[-doors] doth she call loudly,
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 [goeth forth] to the sons of men,
5 O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding.
Learn, O ye simple, to 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 of noble things will I speak; and the opening of my lips shall be of what is equitable.
7 For my mouth will speak the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips.
For truth uttereth my palate ever, and the abomination of my lips is wickedness.
8 All the words of my mouth are righteous; none are crooked or perverse.
In righteousness are all the sayings of my mouth, there is in them nothing crooked or perverse.
9 They are all plain to the discerning, and upright to those who find knowledge.
They are all evident to the man of understanding, and correct to those that have obtained knowledge.
10 Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.
Accept my correction, 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 pearls; and all the things that men wish for are not equal to her.
12 I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.
I wisdom dwell with prudence, and the knowledge of discreet thoughts do I discover.
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 arrogance, and the evil way: and the mouth of perverseness do I hate.
14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength.
Mine are counsel and sound wisdom: I am understanding; mine is might.
15 By me kings reign, and rulers enact just laws;
Through me do kings reign, and chieftains give decrees [in] righteousness.
16 By me princes rule, and all nobles who govern justly.
Through me do princes rule, and the 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 indeed love those 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 honor are with me, yea, enduring wealth and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, pure gold, and my harvest surpasses choice silver.
My fruit is better than gold, and than fine gold; and my products, than choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
On the road of righteousness do I walk firmly, in the midst 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 a lasting possession; and their treasures will I fill
22 The LORD created me as His first course, before His works of old.
The Lord created me as the beginning of his way, the first of his works from the commencement,
23 From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began.
From eternity was I appointed chief, from the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth.
24 When there were no watery depths, I was brought forth, when no springs were overflowing with water.
When there were yet no depths, was I brought forth; when there were yet no springs laden heavily with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth,
Before the mountains were yet sunk down, 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 land and open fields, nor the chief 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 prepared the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle over the face of the deep;
28 when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth,
When he fastened the skies above; when the springs of the deep became strong;
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 assigned to the sea his decree, that the waters should not transgress his order: when he established firmly 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 was I near him, as a nursling: and I was day by day [his] delights, playing before him at all times;
31 I was rejoicing in His whole world, delighting together in the sons of men.
Playing in the world, his earth; and having my delights with the sons of men.
32 Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
And now, O children [of men], hearken unto me! for happy those that observe my ways.
33 Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.
Hear correction, and be wise, and reject 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 unto me, watching day by day 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 he who findeth me findeth life, and he obtaineth favor from the Lord.
36 But he who fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.”
But he that sinneth against me doth violence to his own soul: all those that hate me love death.
