< Proverbs 8 >

1 Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding give forth her voice?
Does not Wisdom call out? Does not Understanding raise her voice?
2 On the top of high places by the way, at the cross-paths she taketh her stand.
On the hilltops beside the road, at the crossroads, Wisdom has taken her stand.
3 Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud.
Before the gates at the entrance into the city, at the entrances into the city, she calls out.
4 Unto you, men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of man:
“It is to you, people, that I call; my voice is for the sons of mankind.
5 O ye simple, understand prudence; and ye foolish, understand sense.
You who are naive, learn wisdom; and you who are foolish, you must get an understanding mind.
6 Hear, for I will speak excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
Listen, because I will speak of noble things, and when my lips open I will say upright things.
7 For my palate shall meditate truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
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 tortuous or perverse in them.
All the words of my mouth are just; in them is nothing twisted or misleading.
9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
All of them are straight for the person who understands; my words are upright for those who find knowledge.
10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold:
Acquire my instruction rather than silver; acquire knowledge rather than pure 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 jewels; no treasure is equal to her.
12 I wisdom dwell [with] prudence, and find the knowledge [which cometh] of reflection.
I, Wisdom, live with Prudence, and I possess knowledge and discretion.
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 Yahweh is to hate evil. I hate pride and arrogance, the evil way, and perverted speech. I hate them.
14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am intelligence; I have strength.
I have good advice and sound wisdom; I am insight; strength belongs to me.
15 By me kings reign, and rulers make just decrees;
By me kings reign, and rulers make laws that are just.
16 by me princes rule, and nobles, all the judges of 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 early shall find me.
I love those who love me, and those who diligently seek me, find me.
18 Riches and honour are with me; durable wealth and righteousness.
With me are riches and honor, lasting wealth and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than fine gold, yea, than pure gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold; my produce is better than pure silver.
20 I walk in the path of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
I walk in the path of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice.
21 that I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasuries.
As a result, I make those who love me inherit wealth; I fill up their treasuries.
22 Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
Yahweh created me at the beginning, the first of his deeds then.
23 I was set up from eternity, from the beginning, before the earth was.
In ages long ago I was made—from the first, from the beginnings of the earth.
24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth, when there were no fountains abounding with water.
Before there were oceans, I was given birth— before there were springs abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth;
Before the mountains were settled and before the hills, I was born.
26 while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust 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 heavens I was there; when he ordained the circle upon the face of the deep;
I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew a circle on the surface of the deep.
28 when he established the skies above, when the fountains of the deep became strong;
I was there when he established the clouds above and when the springs in the deep became fixed.
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:
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 then I was by him [his] nursling, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
I was beside him, as a skilled craftsman; I was his delight day after day, always rejoicing before him.
31 rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth, and my delights [were] with the sons of men.
I was rejoicing in his whole world, and my delight was in the sons of mankind.
32 And now, sons, hearken unto me, and blessed are they that keep my ways:
Now, my sons, listen to me, for those who keep my ways will be blessed.
33 hear instruction and be wise, and refuse it not.
Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not neglect it.
34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
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 whoso findeth me findeth life, and obtaineth favour of Jehovah;
For whoever finds me, finds life, and he will find the favor of Yahweh.
36 but he that sinneth against me doeth violence to his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
But he who fails, harms his own life; all who hate me love death.”

< Proverbs 8 >