Proverbs 8
1 You shall proclaim wisdom, that understanding may be obedient to you.
Doth not wisdom call, and understanding put forth her voice?
2 For she is on lofty eminences, and stands in the midst of the ways.
In the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she standeth;
3 For she sits by the gates of princes, and sings in the entrances, [saying],
Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud:
4 You, O men, I exhort; and utter my voice to the sons of men.
'Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.
5 O you simple, understand subtlety, and you that are untaught, imbibe knowledge.
O ye thoughtless, understand prudence, and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
6 Listen to me; for I will speak solemn [truths]; and will produce right [sayings] from my lips.
Hear, for I will speak excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
7 For my throat shall meditate truth; and false lips are an abomination before me.
For my mouth shall utter truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing in them wrong or perverse.
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness, there is nothing perverse or crooked in them.
9 They are all evident to those that understand, and right to those that find knowledge.
They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
10 Receive instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than tried gold.
Receive my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 For wisdom is better than precious stones; and no valuable substance is of equal worth with it.
For wisdom is better than rubies, and all things desirable are not to be compared unto her.
12 I wisdom have lived [with] counsel and knowledge, and I have called upon understanding.
I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of devices.
13 The fear of the Lord hates unrighteousness, and insolence, and pride, and the ways of wicked men; and I hate the perverse ways of bad men.
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
14 Counsel and safety are mine; prudence is mine, and strength is mine.
Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine.
15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16 By me nobles become great, and monarchs by me rule over the earth.
By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17 I love those that love me; and they that seek me shall find [me].
I love them that love me, and those that seek me earnestly shall find me.
18 Wealth and glory belong to me; yes, abundant possessions and righteousness.
Riches and honour are with me; yea, enduring riches and righteousness.
19 [It is] better to have my fruit than [to have] gold and precious stones; and my produce is better than choice silver.
My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my produce than choice silver.
20 I walk in ways of righteousness, and [am] conversant with the paths of judgment;
I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice;
21 that I may divide substance to them that love me, and may fill their treasures with good things. If I declare to you the things that daily happen, I will remember [also] to recount the things of old.
That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, and that I may fill their treasuries.
22 The Lord made me the beginning of his ways for his works.
The LORD made me as the beginning of His way, the first of His works of old.
23 He established me before time [was] in the beginning, before he made the earth:
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
24 even before he made the depths; before the fountains of water came forth:
When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
25 before the mountains were settled, and before all hills, he begets me.
Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth;
26 The Lord made countries and uninhabited [tracks], and the highest inhabited parts of the world.
While as yet He had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
27 When he prepared the heaven, I was present with him; and when he prepared his throne upon the winds:
When He established the heavens, I was there; when He set a circle upon the face of the deep,
28 and when he strengthened the clouds above; and when he secured the fountains of the earth:
When He made firm the skies above, when the fountains of the deep showed their might,
29 decree. and when he strengthened the foundations of the earth:
When He gave to the sea His decree, that the waters should not transgress His commandment, when He appointed the foundations of the earth;
30 I was by him, suiting [myself to him], I was that wherein he took delight; and daily I rejoiced in his presence continually.
Then I was by Him, as a nursling; and I was daily all delight, playing always before Him,
31 For he rejoiced when he had completed the world, and rejoiced among the children of men.
Playing in His habitable earth, and my delights are with the sons of men.
32 Now then, [my] son, hear me: blessed is the man who shall listen to me, and the mortal who shall keep my ways;
Now therefore, ye children, hearken unto me; for happy are they that keep my ways.
33 [Hear wisdom and be wise, and be not strangers to it. ]
Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
34 watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my entrances.
Happy is the man that hearkeneth to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 For my outgoings are the outgoings of life, and [in them] is prepared favor from the Lord.
For whoso findeth me findeth life, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
36 But they that sin against me act wickedly against their own souls: and they that hate me love death.
But he that misseth me wrongeth his own soul; all they that hate me love death.'
