Proverbs 8
1 Doth not wisdom cry aloud, and prudence put forth her voice?
Does not wisdom cry out, and understanding put forth her voice?
2 Standing in the top of the highest places by the way, 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, in the very doors she speaketh, saying:
Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors, she cries aloud:
4 O ye men, to you I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.
To you, O men, I call. And my voice is to the sons of men.
5 O little ones, understand subtilty, and ye unwise, take notice.
O ye simple, understand prudence, and, ye fools, be of an understanding heart.
6 Hear, for I will speak of great things: and my lips shall be opened to preach right things.
Hear, for I will speak excellent things. And the opening of my lips shall be right things.
7 My mouth shall meditate truth, and my lips shall hate wickedness.
For my mouth shall utter truth. And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All my words are just, there is nothing wicked nor perverse in them.
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness. There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
9 They are right to them that understand, and just to them that find knowledge.
They are all plain to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge.
10 Receive my instruction, and not money: choose knowledge rather than gold.
Receive my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 For wisdom is better than all the most precious things: and whatsoever may be desired cannot be compared to it.
For wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
12 I wisdom dwell in counsel, and am present in learned thoughts.
I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling, and find out knowledge and discretion.
13 The fear of the Lord hateth evil: I hate arrogance, and pride, and every wicked way, and a mouth with a double tongue.
The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil. Pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the perverse mouth, do I hate.
14 Counsel and equity is mine, prudence is mine, strength is mine.
Counsel is mine, and sound knowledge. I am understanding, I have might.
15 By me kings reign, and lawgivers decree just things,
By me kings reign, and rulers decree justice.
16 By me princes rule, and the mighty decree justice.
By me rulers rule, and ranking men, even all the judges of the earth.
17 I love them that love me: and they that in the morning early watch for me, shall find me.
I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently shall find me.
18 With me are riches and glory, glorious riches and justice.
Riches and honor are with me, durable wealth and righteousness.
19 For my fruit is better than gold and the precious stone, and my blossoms than choice silver.
My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold, and my revenue 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 midst of the paths of justice,
21 That I may enrich them that love me, and may fill their treasures.
that I may cause those who love me to inherit substance, and that I may fill their treasuries.
22 The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his ways, before he made any thing from the beginning.
Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
23 I was set up from eternity, and of old before the earth was made.
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, before the earth was,
24 The depths were not as yet, and I was already conceived. neither had the fountains of waters as yet sprung out:
when there were no depths. I was brought forth when there were no fountains abounding with water,
25 The mountains with their huge bulk had not as yet been established: before the hills I was brought forth:
before the mountains were settled, before the hills. I was brought forth
26 He had not yet made the earth, nor the rivers, nor the poles 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 prepared the heavens, I was present: when with a certain law and compass he enclosed the depths:
When he established the heavens, I was there. When he set a circle upon the face of the deep,
28 When he established the sky above, and poised the fountains of waters:
when he made firm the skies above, when the fountains of the deep became strong,
29 When he compassed the sea with its bounds, and set a law to the waters that they should not pass their limits: when be balanced the foundations of the earth;
when he gave to the sea its bound that the waters should not transgress his commandment, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
30 I was with him forming all things: and was delighted every day, playing before him at all times;
then I was by him, a master workman. And I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him,
31 Playing in the world: and my delights were to be with the children of men.
rejoicing in his habitable earth. And my delight was with the sons of men.
32 Now therefore, ye children, hear me: Blessed are they that keep my ways.
Now therefore, ye sons, hearken to me. For blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Hear instruction and be wise, and refuse it not.
Hear instruction, and be wise, and do not refuse it.
34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, and that watcheth daily at my gates, and waiteth at the posts of my doors.
Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 He that shall find me, shall find life, and shall have salvation from the Lord:
For he who finds me finds life, and shall obtain favor of Jehovah.
36 But he that shall sin against me, shall hurt his own soul. All that hate me love death.
But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death.
