Proverbs 8
1 Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding give forth her voice?
You shall proclaim wisdom, that understanding may be obedient to you.
2 On the top of high places by the way, at the cross-paths she taketh her stand.
For she is on lofty eminences, and stands in the midst of the ways.
3 Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud.
For she sits by the gates of princes, and sings in the entrances, [saying],
4 Unto you, men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of man:
You, O men, I exhort; and utter my voice to the sons of men.
5 O ye simple, understand prudence; and ye foolish, understand sense.
O you simple, understand subtlety, and you that are untaught, imbibe knowledge.
6 Hear, for I will speak excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
Listen to me; for I will speak solemn [truths]; and will produce right [sayings] from my lips.
7 For my palate shall meditate truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
For my throat shall meditate truth; and false lips are an abomination before me.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing tortuous or perverse in them.
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing in them wrong or perverse.
9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
They are all evident to those that understand, and right to those that find knowledge.
10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold:
Receive instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than tried gold.
11 for wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things that may be desired are not equal to it.
For wisdom is better than precious stones; and no valuable substance is of equal worth with it.
12 I wisdom dwell [with] prudence, and find the knowledge [which cometh] of reflection.
I wisdom have lived [with] counsel and knowledge, and I have called upon understanding.
13 The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil; pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth do I hate.
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.
14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am intelligence; I have strength.
Counsel and safety are mine; prudence is mine, and strength is mine.
15 By me kings reign, and rulers make just decrees;
By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16 by me princes rule, and nobles, all the judges of the earth.
By me nobles become great, and monarchs by me rule over the earth.
17 I love those that love me; and they that seek me early shall find me.
I love those that love me; and they that seek me shall find [me].
18 Riches and honour are with me; durable wealth and righteousness.
Wealth and glory belong to me; yes, abundant possessions and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than fine gold, yea, than pure gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
[It is] better to have my fruit than [to have] gold and precious stones; and my produce is better than choice silver.
20 I walk in the path of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
I walk in ways of righteousness, and [am] conversant with the paths of judgment;
21 that I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasuries.
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.
22 Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
The Lord made me the beginning of his ways for his works.
23 I was set up from eternity, from the beginning, before the earth was.
He established me before time [was] in the beginning, before he made the earth:
24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth, when there were no fountains abounding with water.
even before he made the depths; before the fountains of water came forth:
25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth;
before the mountains were settled, and before all hills, he begets me.
26 while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
The Lord made countries and uninhabited [tracks], and the highest inhabited parts of the world.
27 When he prepared the heavens I was there; when he ordained the circle upon the face of the deep;
When he prepared the heaven, I was present with him; and when he prepared his throne upon the winds:
28 when he established the skies above, when the fountains of the deep became strong;
and when he strengthened the clouds above; and when he secured the fountains of the earth:
29 when he imposed on the sea his decree that the waters should not pass his commandment, when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
decree. and when he strengthened the foundations of the earth:
30 then I was by him [his] nursling, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
I was by him, suiting [myself to him], I was that wherein he took delight; and daily I rejoiced in his presence continually.
31 rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth, and my delights [were] with the sons of men.
For he rejoiced when he had completed the world, and rejoiced among the children of men.
32 And now, sons, hearken unto me, and blessed are they that keep my ways:
Now then, [my] son, hear me: blessed is the man who shall listen to me, and the mortal who shall keep my ways;
33 hear instruction and be wise, and refuse it not.
[Hear wisdom and be wise, and be not strangers to it. ]
34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my entrances.
35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and obtaineth favour of Jehovah;
For my outgoings are the outgoings of life, and [in them] is prepared favor from the Lord.
36 but he that sinneth against me doeth violence to his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
But they that sin against me act wickedly against their own souls: and they that hate me love death.
