Proverbs 8
1 Does not wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice?
Doth not wisdom cry aloud, And understanding put forth her voice?
2 On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads she takes her stand.
Upon the top of the high places, By the wayside, In the cross-ways, She taketh her station.
3 Beside the gates to the city, at the entrances she cries out:
By the side of the gates, In the entrance of the city, In the approaches to the doors, she crieth aloud.
4 “To you, O men, I call out, and my cry is to the sons of men.
“To you, O men! do 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 simple ones! learn wisdom, 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 speak excellent things, And my lips utter that which is right.
7 For my mouth will speak the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips.
For my mouth speaketh 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 uprightness; There is nothing crooked or deceitful in them;
9 They are all plain to the discerning, and upright 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 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 pearls, And no precious things are to be compared with her.
12 I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.
“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And find out the knowledge of sagacious counsels.
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 deceitful mouth, do I hate.
14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength.
Counsel is mine, and sound reason; I am understanding; I have strength.
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 they who seek me early shall find me.
18 With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and righteousness.
Riches and honor are with me; Yea, durable riches and prosperity.
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 revenue 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 equity.
21 bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.
I cause those who love me to possess substance; Yea, I fill their treasuries.
22 The LORD created me as His first course, before His works of old.
“The LORD created me, the firstling of his course, Before his works, of old;
23 From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began.
I was anointed from everlasting, From the beginning, even before the earth was made.
24 When there were no watery depths, I was brought forth, when no springs were overflowing 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, before the hills, I was brought forth,
Before the mountains were settled, Yea, before the hills, I was brought forth;
26 before He made the land or fields, or any of the dust of the earth.
Ere yet he had made the land and the wastes, And the first of the clods of the earth.
27 I was there when He established the heavens, when He inscribed a circle on the face 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 fountains of the deep gushed forth,
When he made firm the sky above, And the fountains of the deep rushed forth;
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 its bounds, that the waters should not pass their border; When he marked out 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 by him as a master-builder; I was his delight day by day, Exulting before him at all times;
31 I was rejoicing in His whole world, delighting together in 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 Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.
Hear instruction, and be wise! Yea, 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 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 obtains the favor of the LORD.
For he that findeth me findeth life, And obtaineth favor from the LORD;
36 But he who fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.”
But he who misseth me doeth violence to himself; All they who hate me love death.”
