Proverbs 8
1 Does not wisdom call out, and prudence bestow her voice?
Does not wisdom cry out? Does not understanding raise her voice?
2 At the summits and the tops of exalted places, standing above the ways, in the midst of the paths,
On the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she stands.
3 beside the gates of the city, at the very doors, she speaks, saying:
Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entry doors, she cries aloud:
4 “O men, to you I call out, and my voice is to the sons of men.
“I call to you men! I send my voice to the sons of mankind.
5 O little ones, understand discernment. And you who are unwise, turn your souls.
You simple, understand prudence! You fools, be of an understanding heart!
6 Listen, for I will speak about great things, and my lips will be opened, so as to foretell what is right.
Hear, for I will speak excellent things. The opening of my lips is for right things.
7 My throat shall practice truth, and my lips shall detest the impious.
For my mouth speaks truth. Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All my words are just. There is no depravity in them, and no perversity.
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness. There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
9 They are upright to those who understand, and equitable to those who discover knowledge.
They are all plain to him who understands, right to those who find knowledge.
10 Accept my discipline, and not money. Choose the doctrine that is greater than gold.
Receive my instruction rather than silver, knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 For wisdom is better than all that is most precious, and everything that is desirable cannot compare to her.
For wisdom is better than rubies. All the things that may be desired cannot be compared to it.
12 I, wisdom, dwell in counsel, and I am inside learned thoughts.
“I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling. Find out knowledge and discretion.
13 The fear of the Lord hates evil. I detest arrogance, and pride, and every wicked way, and a mouth with a double tongue.
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.
14 Counsel is mine, and equity. Prudence is mine. Strength is mine.
Counsel and sound knowledge are mine. I have understanding and power.
15 Through me, kings reign and legislators decree just conditions.
By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16 Through me, princes rule and the powerful decree justice.
By me princes rule, nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth.
17 I love those who love me. And those who stand watch for me until morning shall discover me.
I love those who love me. Those who seek me diligently will find me.
18 With me, are wealth and glory, superb riches and justice.
With me are riches, honor, enduring wealth, and prosperity.
19 For my fruit is better than gold and precious stones, and my progeny better than choice silver.
My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, my yield than choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of justice, in the midst of the paths of judgment,
I walk in the way of righteousness, in the middle of the paths of justice,
21 so that I may enrich those who love me, and thus complete their treasures.
that I may give wealth to those who love me. I fill their treasuries.
22 The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his ways, before he made anything, from the beginning.
“The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his work, before his deeds of old.
23 I was ordained from eternity, and out of antiquity, before the earth was formed.
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, before the earth existed.
24 The abyss did not yet exist, and I was already conceived; neither had the fountains of waters yet erupted.
When there were no depths, I was born, when there were no springs abounding with water.
25 The mountains, with their great mass, had not yet been established. Before the hills, I was brought forth.
Before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was born;
26 Still he had not made the earth, and the rivers, and the poles of the globe of the earth.
while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
27 I was already present: when he prepared the heavens; when, with a certain law and a circuit, he fortified the abyss;
When he established the heavens, I was there. When he set a circle on the surface of the deep,
28 when he made firm the sky above, and set free the fountains of waters;
when he established the clouds above, when the springs of the deep became strong,
29 when he encompassed the sea within its limits, and laid down a law for the waters, lest they transgress their limits; when he weighed the foundations 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 I was with him in composing all things. And I was delighted, throughout every day, by playing in his sight 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 globe of the earth. And my delight was to be with the sons of men.
rejoicing in his whole world. My delight was with the sons of men.
32 Therefore, sons, hear me now. Blessed are those who preserve my ways.
“Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Listen to discipline, and become wise, and do not be willing to cast it aside.
Hear instruction, and be wise. Do not refuse it.
34 Blessed is the man who listens to me, and who stands watch at my gates every day, and who observes at the posts of my doors.
Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my door posts.
35 He who finds me, finds life, and he will draw salvation from the Lord.
For whoever finds me finds life, and will obtain favor from the LORD.
36 But he who sins against me will wound his own soul. All who hate me love death.”
But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death.”
