Proverbs 8
1 Is not wisdom crying out, and the voice of knowledge sounding?
Doth not wisdom call, and understanding put forth her voice?
2 At the top of the highways, at the meeting of the roads, she takes her place;
In the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she standeth;
3 Where the roads go into the town her cry goes out, at the doorways her voice is loud:
Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud:
4 I am crying out to you, O men; my voice comes to the sons of men.
'Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.
5 Become expert in reason, O you simple ones; you foolish ones, take training to heart.
O ye thoughtless, understand prudence, and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
6 Give ear, for my words are true, and my lips are open to give out what is upright.
Hear, for I will speak excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
7 For good faith goes out of my mouth, and false lips are disgusting to me.
For my mouth shall utter truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are righteousness; there is nothing false or twisted in them.
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness, there is nothing perverse or crooked in them.
9 They are all true to him whose mind is awake, and straightforward to those who get knowledge.
They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
10 Take my teaching, and not silver; get knowledge in place of the best gold.
Receive my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 For wisdom is better than jewels, and all things which may be desired are nothing in comparison with her.
For wisdom is better than rubies, and all things desirable are not to be compared unto her.
12 I, wisdom, have made wise behaviour my near relation; I am seen to be the special friend of wise purposes.
I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of devices.
13 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.
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
14 Wise design and good sense are mine; reason and strength are mine.
Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine.
15 Through me kings have their power, and rulers give right decisions.
By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16 Through me chiefs have authority, and the noble ones are judging in righteousness.
By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17 Those who have given me their love are loved by me, and those who make search for me with care will get me.
I love them that love me, and those that seek me earnestly shall find me.
18 Wealth and honour are in my hands, even wealth without equal and righteousness.
Riches and honour are with me; yea, enduring riches and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, even than the best gold; and my increase is more to be desired than silver.
My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my produce than choice silver.
20 I go in the road of righteousness, in the way of right judging:
I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice;
21 So that I may give my lovers wealth for their heritage, making their store-houses full.
That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, and that I may fill their treasuries.
22 The Lord made me as the start of his way, the first of his works in the past.
The LORD made me as the beginning of His way, the first of His works of old.
23 From eternal days I was given my place, from the birth of time, before the earth was.
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
24 When there was no deep I was given birth, when there were no fountains flowing with water.
When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were put in their places, before the hills was my birth:
Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth;
26 When he had not made the earth or the fields or the dust of the world.
While as yet He had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
27 When he made ready the heavens I was there: when he put an arch over 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 made strong the skies overhead: when the fountains of the deep were fixed:
When He made firm the skies above, when the fountains of the deep showed their might,
29 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:
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 by his side, as a master workman: and I was his delight from day to day, playing before him at all times;
Then I was by Him, as a nursling; and I was daily all delight, playing always before Him,
31 Playing in his earth; and my delight was with the sons of men.
Playing in His habitable earth, and my delights are with the sons of men.
32 Give ear to me then, my sons: for happy are those who keep my ways.
Now therefore, ye children, hearken unto me; for happy are they that keep my ways.
33 Take my teaching and be wise; do not let it go.
Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
34 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.
Happy is the man that hearkeneth to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 For whoever gets me gets life, and grace from the Lord will come to him.
For whoso findeth me findeth life, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
36 But he who does evil to me, does wrong to his soul: all my haters are in love with death.
But he that misseth me wrongeth his own soul; all they that hate me love death.'
