Proverbs 8
1 Doth not wisdom cry aloud, and prudence put forth her voice?
Does not Wisdom call out? Does not Understanding raise her voice?
2 Standing in the top of the highest places by the way, in the midst of the paths.
On the hilltops beside the road, at the crossroads, Wisdom has taken her stand.
3 Beside the gates of the city, in the very doors she speaketh, saying:
Before the gates at the entrance into the city, at the entrances into the city, she calls out.
4 O ye men, to you I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.
“It is to you, people, that I call; my voice is for the sons of mankind.
5 O little ones, understand subtilty, and ye unwise, take notice.
You who are naive, learn wisdom; and you who are foolish, you must get an understanding mind.
6 Hear, for I will speak of great things: and my lips shall be opened to preach right things.
Listen, because I will speak of noble things, and when my lips open I will say upright things.
7 My mouth shall meditate truth, and my lips shall hate wickedness.
For my mouth speaks what is trustworthy, and wickedness is disgusting to my lips.
8 All my words are just, there is nothing wicked nor perverse in them.
All the words of my mouth are just; in them is nothing twisted or misleading.
9 They are right to them that understand, and just 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 money: choose knowledge rather than gold.
Acquire my instruction rather than silver; acquire knowledge rather than pure 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 jewels; no treasure is equal to her.
12 I wisdom dwell in counsel, and am present in learned thoughts.
I, Wisdom, live with Prudence, and I possess 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 Yahweh is to hate evil. I hate pride and arrogance, the evil way, and perverted speech. I hate them.
14 Counsel and equity is mine, prudence is mine, strength is mine.
I have good advice and sound wisdom; I am insight; strength belongs to me.
15 By me kings reign, and lawgivers decree just things,
By me kings reign, and rulers make laws that are just.
16 By me princes rule, and the mighty decree justice.
By me princes rule, nobles, and all who govern with justice.
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 diligently seek me, find me.
18 With me are riches and glory, glorious riches and justice.
With me are riches and honor, lasting 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, even fine gold; my produce is better than pure silver.
20 I walk in the way of justice, 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 enrich them that love me, and may fill their treasures.
As a result, I make those who love me inherit wealth; I fill up their treasuries.
22 The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his ways, before he made any thing from the beginning.
Yahweh created me at the beginning, the first of his deeds then.
23 I was set up from eternity, and of old before the earth was made.
In ages long ago I was made—from the first, from the beginnings of the earth.
24 The depths were not as yet, and I was already conceived. neither had the fountains of waters as yet sprung out:
Before there were oceans, I was given birth— before there were springs 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 and before the hills, I was born.
26 He had not yet made the earth, nor the rivers, nor the poles 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 present: when with a certain law and compass he enclosed the depths:
I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew a circle on the surface of the deep.
28 When he established the sky above, and poised the fountains of waters:
I was there when he established the clouds above and when the springs in the deep became fixed.
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;
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 I was with him forming all things: and was delighted every day, playing before him at all times;
I was beside him, as a skilled craftsman; I was his delight day after day, always rejoicing before him.
31 Playing in the world: and my delights were to be with the children of men.
I was rejoicing in his whole world, and my delight was in the sons of mankind.
32 Now therefore, ye children, hear me: 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, and that watcheth daily at my gates, and waiteth 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 He that shall find me, shall find life, and shall have salvation from the Lord:
For whoever finds me, finds life, and he will find the favor of Yahweh.
36 But he that shall sin against me, shall hurt his own soul. All that hate me love death.
But he who fails, harms his own life; all who hate me love death.”
