Proverbs 8
1 Doth not wisdom call, and understanding put forth her voice?
Does not wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice?
2 In the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she standeth;
On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads she takes her stand.
3 Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud:
Beside the gates to the city, at the entrances she cries out:
4 'Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.
“To you, O men, I call out, and my cry is to the sons of men.
5 O ye thoughtless, understand prudence, and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding.
6 Hear, for I will speak excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right.
7 For my mouth shall utter truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
For my mouth will speak the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness, there is nothing perverse or crooked in them.
All the words of my mouth are righteous; none are crooked or perverse.
9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
They are all plain to the discerning, and upright to those who find knowledge.
10 Receive my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold.
Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.
11 For wisdom is better than rubies, and all things desirable are not to be compared unto her.
For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her.
12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of devices.
I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.
13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.
14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine.
Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength.
15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
By me kings reign, and rulers enact just laws;
16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
By me princes rule, and all nobles who govern justly.
17 I love them that love me, and those that seek me earnestly shall find me.
I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.
18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, enduring riches and righteousness.
With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my produce than choice silver.
My fruit is better than gold, pure gold, and my harvest surpasses choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice;
I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, and that I may fill their treasuries.
bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.
22 The LORD made me as the beginning of His way, the first of His works of old.
The LORD created me as His first course, before His works of old.
23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began.
24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
When there were no watery depths, I was brought forth, when no springs were overflowing with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth;
Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth,
26 While as yet He had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
before He made the land or fields, or any of the dust of the earth.
27 When He established the heavens, I was there; when He set a circle upon the face of the deep,
I was there when He established the heavens, when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,
28 When He made firm the skies above, when the fountains of the deep showed their might,
when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth,
29 When He gave to the sea His decree, that the waters should not transgress His commandment, when He appointed the foundations of the earth;
when He set a boundary for the sea, so that the waters would not surpass His command, when He marked out the foundations of the earth.
30 Then I was by Him, as a nursling; and I was daily all delight, playing always before Him,
Then I was a skilled craftsman at His side, and His delight day by day, rejoicing always in His presence.
31 Playing in His habitable earth, and my delights are with the sons of men.
I was rejoicing in His whole world, delighting together in the sons of men.
32 Now therefore, ye children, hearken unto me; for happy are they that keep my ways.
Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.
34 Happy is the man that hearkeneth to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway.
35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
For whoever finds me finds life and obtains the favor of the LORD.
36 But he that misseth me wrongeth his own soul; all they that hate me love death.'
But he who fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.”
