Proverbs 8
1 Is not wisdom crying out, and the voice of knowledge sounding?
Doesn't wisdom cry out? Doesn't understanding raise her voice?
2 At the top of the highways, at the meeting of the roads, she takes her place;
On the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she stands.
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 entry doors, she cries aloud:
4 I am crying out to you, O men; my voice comes to the sons of men.
"To you men, I call. I send my voice to the sons of humankind.
5 Become expert in reason, O you simple ones; you foolish ones, take training to heart.
You simple, understand prudence. You fools, be 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. The opening of my lips is for right things.
7 For good faith goes out of my mouth, and false lips are disgusting to me.
For my mouth speaks truth. 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 crooked or perverse 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 who understands, right to those who find knowledge.
10 Take my teaching, and not silver; get knowledge in place of the best gold.
Receive my instruction rather than silver; 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. All the things that may be desired can't be compared to it.
12 I, wisdom, have made wise behaviour my near relation; I am seen to be the special friend of wise purposes.
"I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling. Find out knowledge and discretion.
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. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.
14 Wise design and good sense are mine; reason and strength are mine.
Counsel and sound knowledge are mine. I have understanding and power.
15 Through me kings have their power, and rulers give right decisions.
By me kings reign, and rulers decree justice.
16 Through me chiefs have authority, and the noble ones are judging in righteousness.
By me princes rule; nobles, and all the righteous rulers 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 those who love me. Those who seek me diligently will find me.
18 Wealth and honour are in my hands, even wealth without equal and righteousness.
With me are riches, honor, enduring wealth, and prosperity.
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, yes, than fine gold; my yield 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 give wealth to those who love me. I fill their treasuries.
22 The Lord made me as the start of his way, the first of his works in the past.
"The LORD created me in the beginning of his way, before 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, before the earth existed.
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 springs abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were put in their places, before the hills was my birth:
Before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was 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 on the surface of the deep,
28 When he made strong the skies overhead: when the fountains of the deep were fixed:
when he established the clouds above, when the springs of the deep became strong,
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 its boundary, that the waters should not violate his commandment, when he marked out 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 the craftsman by his side. I was a delight day by day, always rejoicing before him,
31 Playing in his earth; and my delight was with the sons of men.
Rejoicing in his whole world. My delight was with the sons of men.
32 Give ear to me then, my sons: for happy are those who keep my ways.
"Now therefore, son, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Take my teaching and be wise; do not let it go.
Hear instruction, and be wise. Do not refuse it.
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.
Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my door posts.
35 For whoever gets me gets life, and grace from the Lord will come to him.
For whoever finds me, finds life, and will obtain favor from 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 who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death."
