Proverbs 8
1 Does not wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice?
Does not Wisdom call out? Does not Understanding raise her voice?
2 On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads she takes her stand.
On the hilltops beside the road, at the crossroads, Wisdom has taken her stand.
3 Beside the gates to the city, at the entrances she cries out:
Before the gates at the entrance into the city, at the entrances into the city, she calls out.
4 “To you, O men, I call out, and my cry is to the sons of men.
“It is to you, people, that I call; my voice is for the sons of mankind.
5 O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding.
You who are naive, learn wisdom; and you who are foolish, you must get an understanding mind.
6 Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right.
Listen, because I will speak of noble things, and when my lips open I will say upright things.
7 For my mouth will speak the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips.
For my mouth speaks what is trustworthy, and wickedness is disgusting to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are righteous; none are crooked or perverse.
All the words of my mouth are just; in them is nothing twisted or misleading.
9 They are all plain to the discerning, and upright to those who find knowledge.
All of them are straight for the person who understands; my words are upright for those who find knowledge.
10 Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.
Acquire my instruction rather than silver; acquire knowledge rather than pure gold.
11 For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her.
For Wisdom is better than jewels; no treasure is equal to her.
12 I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.
I, Wisdom, live with Prudence, and I possess knowledge and discretion.
13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.
The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil. I hate pride and arrogance, the evil way, and perverted speech. I hate them.
14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength.
I have good advice and sound wisdom; I am insight; strength belongs to me.
15 By me kings reign, and rulers enact just laws;
By me kings reign, and rulers make laws that are just.
16 By me princes rule, and all nobles who govern justly.
By me princes rule, nobles, and all who govern with justice.
17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.
I love those who love me, and those who diligently seek me, find me.
18 With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and righteousness.
With me are riches and honor, lasting wealth and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, pure gold, and my harvest surpasses choice silver.
My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold; my produce is better than pure silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
I walk in the path of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice.
21 bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.
As a result, I make those who love me inherit wealth; I fill up their treasuries.
22 The LORD created me as His first course, before His works of old.
Yahweh created me at the beginning, the first of his deeds then.
23 From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began.
In ages long ago I was made—from the first, from the beginnings of the earth.
24 When there were no watery depths, I was brought forth, when no springs were overflowing with water.
Before there were oceans, I was given birth— before there were springs abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth,
Before the mountains were settled and before the hills, I was born.
26 before He made the land or fields, or any of the dust of the earth.
I was born before Yahweh had made the earth or the fields, or even the first dust in the world.
27 I was there when He established the heavens, when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,
I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew a circle on the surface of the deep.
28 when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth,
I was there when he established the clouds above and when the springs in the deep became 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.
I was there when he made his limit for the sea, so the waters should not spread beyond his command, and when there was set the limit for the foundations of the dry land.
30 Then I was a skilled craftsman at His side, and His delight day by day, rejoicing always in His presence.
I was beside him, as a skilled craftsman; I was his delight day after day, always rejoicing before him.
31 I was rejoicing in His whole world, delighting together in the sons of men.
I was rejoicing in his whole world, and my delight was in the sons of mankind.
32 Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
Now, my sons, listen to me, for those who keep my ways will be blessed.
33 Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.
Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not neglect it.
34 Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway.
The one who listens to me will be blessed. He will be watching every day at my doors, waiting beside the posts of my doors.
35 For whoever finds me finds life and obtains the favor of the LORD.
For whoever finds me, finds life, and he will find the favor of Yahweh.
36 But he who fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.”
But he who fails, harms his own life; all who hate me love death.”
