Proverbs 8
1 Doth not wisdom cry aloud, and prudence put forth her voice?
DOTH not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
2 Standing in the top of the highest places by the way, in the midst of the paths.
She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
3 Beside the gates of the city, in the very doors she speaketh, saying:
She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
4 O ye men, to you I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.
Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
5 O little ones, understand subtilty, and ye unwise, take notice.
O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye 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 of 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 speak 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 froward 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 that understandeth, and right to them that 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 dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
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 the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
14 Counsel and equity is mine, prudence is mine, strength is mine.
Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
15 By me kings reign, and lawgivers decree just things,
By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16 By me princes rule, and the mighty decree justice.
By me princes rule, and nobles, 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 them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
18 With me are riches and glory, glorious riches and justice.
Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches 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 lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
21 That I may enrich them that love me, and may fill their treasures.
That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
22 The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his ways, before he made any thing from the beginning.
The Lord 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, or ever 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 was I 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 highest part 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 prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
28 When he established the sky above, and poised the fountains of waters:
When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
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 his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed 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, as one brought up with him: 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 the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
32 Now therefore, ye children, hear me: Blessed are they that keep my ways.
Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
33 Hear instruction and be wise, and refuse it not.
Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
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 that heareth 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 whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord.
36 But he that shall sin against me, shall hurt his own soul. All that hate me love death.
But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
