Proverbs 8
1 Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
Does not Wisdom call out? Does not Understanding raise her voice?
2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
On the hilltops beside the road, at the crossroads, Wisdom has taken her stand.
3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
Before the gates at the entrance into the city, at the entrances into the city, she calls out.
4 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
“It is to you, people, that I call; my voice is for the sons of mankind.
5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
You who are naive, learn wisdom; and you who are foolish, you must get an understanding mind.
6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
Listen, because I will speak of noble things, and when my lips open I will say upright things.
7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
For my mouth speaks what is trustworthy, and wickedness is disgusting to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.
All the words of my mouth are just; in them is nothing twisted or misleading.
9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right 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 silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
Acquire my instruction rather than silver; acquire knowledge rather than pure gold.
11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
For Wisdom is better than jewels; no treasure is equal to her.
12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
I, Wisdom, live with Prudence, and I possess knowledge and discretion.
13 The fear of YHWH is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil. I hate pride and arrogance, the evil way, and perverted speech. I hate them.
14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
I have good advice and sound wisdom; I am insight; strength belongs to me.
15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
By me kings reign, and rulers make laws that are just.
16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
By me princes rule, nobles, and all who govern with justice.
17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
I love those who love me, and those who diligently seek me, find me.
18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
With me are riches and honor, lasting wealth and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold; my produce is better than pure silver.
20 I lead in the way of righteousness, 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 cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
As a result, I make those who love me inherit wealth; I fill up their treasuries.
22 YHWH possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
Yahweh created me at the beginning, the first of his deeds then.
23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
In ages long ago I was made—from the first, from the beginnings of the earth.
24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
Before there were oceans, I was given birth— before there were springs abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:
Before the mountains were settled and before the hills, I was born.
26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust 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 there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew a circle on the surface of the deep.
28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
I was there when he established the clouds above and when the springs in the deep became fixed.
29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: 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 I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
I was beside him, as a skilled craftsman; I was his delight day after day, always rejoicing before him.
31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
I was rejoicing in his whole world, and my delight was in the sons of mankind.
32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for 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, watching daily at my gates, waiting 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 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of YHWH.
For whoever finds me, finds life, and he will find the favor of Yahweh.
36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
But he who fails, harms his own life; all who hate me love death.”
