Proverbs 8
1 Behold, wisdom calleth, and understanding sendeth forth her voice,
You shall proclaim wisdom, that understanding may be obedient to you.
2 On the top of high places, by the wayside, at the house where there are [many] paths doth she place herself.
For she is on lofty eminences, and stands in the midst of the ways.
3 Alongside of gates, at the opening of the city, at the entrance of the town[-doors] doth she call loudly,
For she sits by the gates of princes, and sings in the entrances, [saying],
4 Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice [goeth forth] to the sons of men,
You, O men, I exhort; and utter my voice to the sons of men.
5 Learn, O ye simple, to understand prudence: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
O you simple, understand subtlety, and you that are untaught, imbibe knowledge.
6 Hear! for of noble things will I speak; and the opening of my lips shall be of what is equitable.
Listen to me; for I will speak solemn [truths]; and will produce right [sayings] from my lips.
7 For truth uttereth my palate ever, and the abomination of my lips is wickedness.
For my throat shall meditate truth; and false lips are an abomination before me.
8 In righteousness are all the sayings of my mouth, there is in them nothing crooked or perverse.
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing in them wrong or perverse.
9 They are all evident to the man of understanding, and correct to those that have obtained knowledge.
They are all evident to those that understand, and right to those that find knowledge.
10 Accept my correction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
Receive instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than tried gold.
11 For wisdom is better than pearls; and all the things that men wish for are not equal to her.
For wisdom is better than precious stones; and no valuable substance is of equal worth with it.
12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and the knowledge of discreet thoughts do I discover.
I wisdom have lived [with] counsel and knowledge, and I have called upon understanding.
13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil, pride and arrogance, and the evil way: and the mouth of perverseness do I hate.
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.
14 Mine are counsel and sound wisdom: I am understanding; mine is might.
Counsel and safety are mine; prudence is mine, and strength is mine.
15 Through me do kings reign, and chieftains give decrees [in] righteousness.
By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16 Through me do princes rule, and the nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
By me nobles become great, and monarchs by me rule over the earth.
17 I indeed love those that love me: and those that seek me earnestly shall find me.
I love those that love me; and they that seek me shall find [me].
18 Riches and honor are with me, yea, enduring wealth and righteousness.
Wealth and glory belong to me; yes, abundant possessions and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, and than fine gold; and my products, than choice silver.
[It is] better to have my fruit than [to have] gold and precious stones; and my produce is better than choice silver.
20 On the road of righteousness do I walk firmly, in the midst the paths of justice:
I walk in ways of righteousness, and [am] conversant with the paths of judgement;
21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit a lasting possession; and their treasures will I fill
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.
22 The Lord created me as the beginning of his way, the first of his works from the commencement,
The Lord made me the beginning of his ways for his works.
23 From eternity was I appointed chief, from the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth.
He established me before time [was] in the beginning, before he made the earth:
24 When there were yet no depths, was I brought forth; when there were yet no springs laden heavily with water.
even before he made the depths; before the fountains of water came forth:
25 Before the mountains were yet sunk down, before the hills was I brought forth:
before the mountains were settled, and before all hills, he begets me.
26 While as yet he had not made the land and open fields, nor the chief of the dust of the world.
The Lord made countries and uninhabited [tracks], and the highest inhabited parts of the world.
27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle over the face of the deep;
When he prepared the heaven, I was present with him; and when he prepared his throne upon the winds:
28 When he fastened the skies above; when the springs of the deep became strong;
and when he strengthened the clouds above; and when he secured the fountains of the earth:
29 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:
decree. and when he strengthened the foundations of the earth:
30 Then was I near him, as a nursling: and I was day by day [his] delights, playing before him at all times;
I was by him, suiting [myself to him], I was that wherein he took delight; and daily I rejoiced in his presence continually.
31 Playing in the world, his earth; and having my delights with the sons of men.
For he rejoiced when he had completed the world, and rejoiced amongst the children of men.
32 And now, O children [of men], hearken unto me! for happy those that observe my ways.
Now then, [my] son, hear me: blessed is the man who shall listen to me, and the mortal who shall keep my ways;
33 Hear correction, and be wise, and reject it not.
[Hear wisdom and be wise, and be not strangers to it. ]
34 Happy is the man that hearkeneth unto me, watching day by day at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my entrances.
35 For he who findeth me findeth life, and he obtaineth favor from the Lord.
For my outgoings are the outgoings of life, and [in them] is prepared favour from the Lord.
36 But he that sinneth against me doth violence to his own soul: all those that hate me love death.
But they that sin against me act wickedly against their own souls: and they that hate me love death.
