Proverbs 8
1 Doth not wisedome crie? and vnderstanding vtter her voyce?
Does not Wisdom call out? Does not Understanding raise her voice?
2 She standeth in the top of the high places by the way in the place of the paths.
On the hilltops beside the road, at the crossroads, Wisdom has taken her stand.
3 She cryeth besides the gates before the citie at the entrie of the doores,
Before the gates at the entrance into the city, at the entrances into the city, she calls out.
4 O men, I call vnto you, and vtter my voyce to the children of men.
“It is to you, people, that I call; my voice is for the sons of mankind.
5 O ye foolish men, vnderstand wisedome, and ye, O fooles, be wise in heart.
You who are naive, learn wisdom; and you who are foolish, you must get an understanding mind.
6 Giue eare, for I will speake of excellent things, and the opening of my lippes, shall teache things that be right.
Listen, because I will speak of noble things, and when my lips open I will say upright things.
7 For my mouth shall speake the trueth, and my lippes abhorre wickednesse.
For my mouth speaks what is trustworthy, and wickedness is disgusting to my lips.
8 All the wordes of my mouth are righteous: there is no lewdenes, nor frowardnesse in them.
All the words of my mouth are just; in them is nothing twisted or misleading.
9 They are all plaine to him that will vnderstande, and streight to them that woulde finde knowledge.
All of them are straight for the person who understands; my words are upright for those who find knowledge.
10 Receiue mine instruction, and not siluer, and knowledge rather then fine golde.
Acquire my instruction rather than silver; acquire knowledge rather than pure gold.
11 For wisdome is better then precious stones: and all pleasures are not to be compared vnto her.
For Wisdom is better than jewels; no treasure is equal to her.
12 I wisdome dwell with prudence, and I find foorth knowledge and counsels.
I, Wisdom, live with Prudence, and I possess knowledge and discretion.
13 The feare of the Lord is to hate euill as pride, and arrogancie, and the euill way: and a mouth that speaketh lewde things, I doe hate.
The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil. I hate pride and arrogance, the evil way, and perverted speech. I hate them.
14 I haue counsell and wisedome: I am vnderstanding, and I haue strength.
I have good advice and sound wisdom; I am insight; strength belongs to me.
15 By me, Kings reigne, and princes decree iustice.
By me kings reign, and rulers make laws that are just.
16 By me princes rule and the nobles, and all the iudges of the earth.
By me princes rule, nobles, and all who govern with justice.
17 I loue them that loue me: and they that seeke me earely, shall finde me.
I love those who love me, and those who diligently seek me, find me.
18 Riches and honour are with me: euen durable riches and righteousnesse.
With me are riches and honor, lasting wealth and righteousness.
19 My fruite is better then golde, euen then fine golde, and my reuenues better then fine siluer.
My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold; my produce is better than pure silver.
20 I cause to walke in the way of righteousnes, and in the middes of the paths of iudgement,
I walk in the path of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice.
21 That I may cause them that loue me, to inherite substance, and I will fill their treasures.
As a result, I make those who love me inherit wealth; I fill up their treasuries.
22 The Lord hath possessed me in the beginning of his way: I was before his workes of olde.
Yahweh created me at the beginning, the first of his deeds then.
23 I was set vp from euerlasting, from the beginning and before the earth.
In ages long ago I was made—from the first, from the beginnings of the earth.
24 When there were no depths, was I begotten, when there were no fountaines abounding with water.
Before there were oceans, I was given birth— before there were springs abounding with water.
25 Before the mountaines were setled: and before the hilles, was I begotten.
Before the mountains were settled and before the hills, I was born.
26 He had not yet made the earth, nor the open places, nor the height of the dust in the worlde.
I was born before Yahweh had made the earth or the fields, or even the first dust in the world.
27 When hee prepared the heauens, I was there, when he set the compasse vpon the deepe.
I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew a circle on the surface of the deep.
28 When he established the cloudes aboue, when he confirmed the fountaines of the deepe,
I was there when he established the clouds above and when the springs in the deep became fixed.
29 When he gaue his decree to the Sea, that the waters shoulde not passe his commandement: 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 was I with him as a nourisher, and I was dayly his delight reioycing alway before him,
I was beside him, as a skilled craftsman; I was his delight day after day, always rejoicing before him.
31 And tooke my solace in the compasse of his earth: and my delite is with the children of men.
I was rejoicing in his whole world, and my delight was in the sons of mankind.
32 Therefore nowe hearken, O children, vnto me: for blessed are they that keepe my wayes.
Now, my sons, listen to me, for those who keep my ways will be blessed.
33 Heare instruction, and be ye wise, and refuse it not:
Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not neglect it.
34 blessed is the man that heareth mee, watching dayly at my gates, and giuing attendance at the postes of my doores.
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 he that findeth me, findeth life, and shall obteine fauour of the Lord.
For whoever finds me, finds life, and he will find the favor of Yahweh.
36 But he that sinneth against me, hurteth his owne soule: and all that hate me, loue death.
But he who fails, harms his own life; all who hate me love death.”
