Proverbs 8
1 You shall proclaim wisdom, that understanding may be obedient to you.
Does not Wisdom call out? Does not Understanding raise her voice?
2 For she is on lofty eminences, and stands in the midst of the ways.
On the hilltops beside the road, at the crossroads, Wisdom has taken her stand.
3 For she sits by the gates of princes, and sings in the entrances, [saying],
Before the gates at the entrance into the city, at the entrances into the city, she calls out.
4 You, O men, I exhort; and utter my voice to the sons of men.
“It is to you, people, that I call; my voice is for the sons of mankind.
5 O you simple, understand subtlety, and you that are untaught, imbibe knowledge.
You who are naive, learn wisdom; and you who are foolish, you must get an understanding mind.
6 Listen to me; for I will speak solemn [truths]; and will produce right [sayings] from my lips.
Listen, because I will speak of noble things, and when my lips open I will say upright things.
7 For my throat shall meditate truth; and false lips are an abomination before me.
For my mouth speaks what is trustworthy, and wickedness is disgusting to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing in them wrong or perverse.
All the words of my mouth are just; in them is nothing twisted or misleading.
9 They are all evident to those that understand, and right to those that find knowledge.
All of them are straight for the person who understands; my words are upright for those who find knowledge.
10 Receive instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than tried gold.
Acquire my instruction rather than silver; acquire knowledge rather than pure gold.
11 For wisdom is better than precious stones; and no valuable substance is of equal worth with it.
For Wisdom is better than jewels; no treasure is equal to her.
12 I wisdom have lived [with] counsel and knowledge, and I have called upon understanding.
I, Wisdom, live with Prudence, and I possess knowledge and discretion.
13 The fear of the Lord hates unrighteousness, and insolence, and pride, and the ways of wicked men; and I hate the perverse ways of bad men.
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 safety are mine; prudence is mine, and strength is mine.
I have good advice and sound wisdom; I am insight; strength belongs to me.
15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
By me kings reign, and rulers make laws that are just.
16 By me nobles become great, and monarchs by me rule over the earth.
By me princes rule, nobles, and all who govern with justice.
17 I love those that love me; and they that seek me shall find [me].
I love those who love me, and those who diligently seek me, find me.
18 Wealth and glory belong to me; yes, abundant possessions and righteousness.
With me are riches and honor, lasting wealth and righteousness.
19 [It is] better to have my fruit than [to have] gold and precious stones; and my produce is better than choice silver.
My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold; my produce is better than pure silver.
20 I walk in ways of righteousness, and [am] conversant with the paths of judgement;
I walk in the path of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice.
21 that I may divide substance to them that love me, and may fill their treasures with good things. If I declare to you the things that daily happen, I will remember [also] to recount the things of old.
As a result, I make those who love me inherit wealth; I fill up their treasuries.
22 The Lord made me the beginning of his ways for his works.
Yahweh created me at the beginning, the first of his deeds then.
23 He established me before time [was] in the beginning, before he made the earth:
In ages long ago I was made—from the first, from the beginnings of the earth.
24 even before he made the depths; before the fountains of water came forth:
Before there were oceans, I was given birth— before there were springs abounding with water.
25 before the mountains were settled, and before all hills, he begets me.
Before the mountains were settled and before the hills, I was born.
26 The Lord made countries and uninhabited [tracks], and the highest inhabited parts of the world.
I was born before Yahweh had made the earth or the fields, or even the first dust in the world.
27 When he prepared the heaven, I was present with him; and when he prepared his throne upon the winds:
I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew a circle on the surface of the deep.
28 and when he strengthened the clouds above; and when he secured the fountains of the earth:
I was there when he established the clouds above and when the springs in the deep became fixed.
29 decree. and when he strengthened 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 I was by him, suiting [myself to him], I was that wherein he took delight; and daily I rejoiced in his presence continually.
I was beside him, as a skilled craftsman; I was his delight day after day, always rejoicing before him.
31 For he rejoiced when he had completed the world, and rejoiced amongst the children of men.
I was rejoicing in his whole world, and my delight was in the sons of mankind.
32 Now then, [my] son, hear me: blessed is the man who shall listen to me, and the mortal who shall keep my ways;
Now, my sons, listen to me, for those who keep my ways will be blessed.
33 [Hear wisdom and be wise, and be not strangers to it. ]
Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not neglect it.
34 watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my entrances.
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 my outgoings are the outgoings of life, and [in them] is prepared favour from the Lord.
For whoever finds me, finds life, and he will find the favor of Yahweh.
36 But they that sin against me act wickedly against their own souls: and they that hate me love death.
But he who fails, harms his own life; all who hate me love death.”
