Proverbs 8
1 You shall proclaim wisdom, that understanding may be obedient to you.
Behold, wisdom calleth, and understanding sendeth forth her voice,
2 For she is on lofty eminences, and stands in the midst of the ways.
On the top of high places, by the wayside, at the house where there are [many] paths doth she place herself.
3 For she sits by the gates of princes, and sings in the entrances, [saying],
Alongside of gates, at the opening of the city, at the entrance of the town[-doors] doth she call loudly,
4 You, O men, I exhort; and utter my voice to the sons of men.
Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice [goeth forth] to the sons of men,
5 O you simple, understand subtlety, and you that are untaught, imbibe knowledge.
Learn, O ye simple, to 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 of noble things will I speak; and the opening of my lips shall be of what is equitable.
7 For my throat shall meditate truth; and false lips are an abomination before me.
For truth uttereth my palate ever, and the abomination of my lips is wickedness.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing in them wrong or perverse.
In righteousness are all the sayings of my mouth, there is in them nothing crooked or perverse.
9 They are all evident to those that understand, and right to those that find knowledge.
They are all evident to the man of understanding, and correct to those that have obtained knowledge.
10 Receive instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than tried gold.
Accept my correction, 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 pearls; and all the things that men wish for are not equal to her.
12 I wisdom have lived [with] counsel and knowledge, and I have called upon understanding.
I wisdom dwell with prudence, and the knowledge of discreet thoughts do I discover.
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 arrogance, and the evil way: and the mouth of perverseness do I hate.
14 Counsel and safety are mine; prudence is mine, and strength is mine.
Mine are counsel and sound wisdom: I am understanding; mine is might.
15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
Through me do kings reign, and chieftains give decrees [in] righteousness.
16 By me nobles become great, and monarchs by me rule over the earth.
Through me do princes rule, and the nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17 I love those that love me; and they that seek me shall find [me].
I indeed love those 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 honor are with me, yea, enduring wealth 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, and than fine gold; and my products, than choice silver.
20 I walk in ways of righteousness, and [am] conversant with the paths of judgment;
On the road of righteousness do I walk firmly, in the midst 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 a lasting possession; and their treasures will I fill
22 The Lord made me the beginning of his ways for his works.
The Lord created me as the beginning of his way, the first of his works from the commencement,
23 He established me before time [was] in the beginning, before he made the earth:
From eternity was I appointed chief, from the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth.
24 even before he made the depths; before the fountains of water came forth:
When there were yet no depths, was I brought forth; when there were yet no springs laden heavily with water.
25 before the mountains were settled, and before all hills, he begets me.
Before the mountains were yet sunk down, 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 land and open fields, nor the chief 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 prepared the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle over the face of the deep;
28 and when he strengthened the clouds above; and when he secured the fountains of the earth:
When he fastened the skies above; when the springs of the deep became strong;
29 decree. and when he strengthened the foundations of the earth:
When he assigned to the sea his decree, that the waters should not transgress his order: when he established firmly 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 was I near him, as a nursling: and I was day by day [his] delights, playing before him at all times;
31 For he rejoiced when he had completed the world, and rejoiced among the children of men.
Playing in the world, his earth; and having my delights 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;
And now, O children [of men], hearken unto me! for happy those that observe my ways.
33 [Hear wisdom and be wise, and be not strangers to it. ]
Hear correction, and be wise, and reject it not.
34 watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my entrances.
Happy is the man that hearkeneth unto me, watching day by day 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 he who findeth me findeth life, and he obtaineth favor from 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 sinneth against me doth violence to his own soul: all those that hate me love death.
