Proverbs 8
1 Isn't wisdom calling? Isn't understanding raising her voice?
Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding give forth her voice?
2 On the top of the hill by the road, she stands up at the crossroads.
On the top of high places by the way, at the cross-paths she taketh her stand.
3 Beside the gates of the town, right there at the entrance, she cries out:
Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud.
4 “I'm calling out to you, everyone! My call is to everyone in the whole world!
Unto you, men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of man:
5 If you're immature, learn how to grow up. If you're stupid, learn what makes good sense.
O ye simple, understand prudence; and ye foolish, understand sense.
6 Listen to me because I have valuable things to explain to you.
Hear, for I will speak excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
7 I say what's right, because I tell the truth and I hate wickedness in all its forms.
For my palate shall meditate truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words I say are true; none are false or misleading.
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing tortuous or perverse in them.
9 My words are straightforward to anyone with understanding; they are correct to those who have knowledge.
They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
10 Choose my instruction over silver; choose knowledge over pure gold.
Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold:
11 For wisdom is more valuable than rubies; everything you could ever want just doesn't compare!
for wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things that may be desired are not equal to it.
12 I, wisdom, am at home with good decisions. I know how to find knowledge and discernment.
I wisdom dwell [with] prudence, and find the knowledge [which cometh] of reflection.
13 Honoring the Lord means hating evil. So I hate pride and arrogance, wicked behavior and telling lies.
The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil; pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth do I hate.
14 I have advice and good judgment; I know what makes sense, and I have power.
Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am intelligence; I have strength.
15 It's because of me that kings reign, and rulers issue fair decrees.
By me kings reign, and rulers make just decrees;
16 It's because of me that leaders and nobles govern—all who rule justly.
by me princes rule, and nobles, all the judges of the earth.
17 I love those who love me, and those who really look for me will find me.
I love those that love me; and they that seek me early shall find me.
18 With me go riches and honor, lasting wealth and prosperity.
Riches and honour are with me; durable wealth and righteousness.
19 The fruit I produce is better than gold, even pure gold, and my harvest is better than even the best silver.
My fruit is better than fine gold, yea, than pure gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
20 I live in a way that's right; I follow the paths of justice.
I walk in the path of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
21 I grant wealth to those who love me; I fill their treasure storehouses.
that I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasuries.
22 The Lord created me first of all; I was made before anything else.
Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
23 I was formed a long time ago, at the first, before the world began.
I was set up from eternity, from the beginning, before the earth was.
24 I was born when there were no ocean depths, when there were no springs pouring out water.
When there were no depths, I was brought forth, when there were no fountains abounding with water.
25 I was born before the mountains or the hills had been formed,
Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth;
26 when he hadn't made the earth and its fields or any of the earth's dust.
while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
27 I was there when he placed the heavens in position, when he drew the horizon over the ocean,
When he prepared the heavens I was there; when he ordained the circle upon the face of the deep;
28 when he made the clouds in the sky above, when he created the springs of the oceans,
when he established the skies above, when the fountains of the deep became strong;
29 when he set limits on the sea so that the waters would not go farther than he ordered, and when he laid out the foundations of the earth.
when he imposed on the sea his decree that the waters should not pass his commandment, when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
30 Then I was beside him as a master craftsman. I made him happy every day, and I was always full of joy in his presence.
then I was by him [his] nursling, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
31 I was so happy in the world he created, celebrating together with human beings.
rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth, and my delights [were] with the sons of men.
32 And now, my sons, listen to me, for happy are those who follow my ways.
And now, sons, hearken unto me, and blessed are they that keep my ways:
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise—do not reject it.
hear instruction and be wise, and refuse it not.
34 Happy are those who listen to me, watching for me every day at my doors, waiting at my entrance way.
Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 For those who find me, find life, and are accepted by the Lord.
For whoso findeth me findeth life, and obtaineth favour of Jehovah;
36 But those who don't find me hurt themselves; everyone who hates me loves death.”
but he that sinneth against me doeth violence to his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
