Proverbs 8
1 Behold, wisdom calleth, and understanding sendeth forth her voice,
Doth not wisdom call, and understanding put forth her voice?
2 On the top of high places, by the wayside, at the house where there are [many] paths doth she place herself.
In the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she standeth;
3 Alongside of gates, at the opening of the city, at the entrance of the town[-doors] doth she call loudly,
Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud:
4 Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice [goeth forth] to the sons of men,
'Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.
5 Learn, O ye simple, to understand prudence: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
O ye thoughtless, understand prudence, and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
6 Hear! for of noble things will I speak; and the opening of my lips shall be of what is equitable.
Hear, for I will speak excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
7 For truth uttereth my palate ever, and the abomination of my lips is wickedness.
For my mouth shall utter truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
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 perverse or crooked in them.
9 They are all evident to the man of understanding, and correct to those that have obtained knowledge.
They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
10 Accept my correction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
Receive my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice 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 rubies, and all things desirable are not to be compared unto her.
12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and the knowledge of discreet thoughts do I discover.
I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of devices.
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 is to hate evil; pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
14 Mine are counsel and sound wisdom: I am understanding; mine is might.
Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power 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 princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17 I indeed love those that love me: and those that seek me earnestly shall find me.
I love them that love me, and those that seek me earnestly shall find me.
18 Riches and honor are with me, yea, enduring wealth and righteousness.
Riches and honour are with me; yea, enduring riches and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, and than fine gold; and my products, than choice silver.
My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my produce than choice silver.
20 On the road of righteousness do I walk firmly, in the midst the paths of justice:
I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice;
21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit a lasting possession; and their treasures will I fill
That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, and that I may fill their treasuries.
22 The Lord created me as the beginning of his way, the first of his works from the commencement,
The LORD made me as the beginning of His way, the first of His works of old.
23 From eternity was I appointed chief, from the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth.
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
24 When there were yet no depths, was I brought forth; when there were yet no springs laden heavily with water.
When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were yet sunk down, before the hills was I brought forth:
Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth;
26 While as yet he had not made the land and open fields, nor the chief of the dust 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 heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle over the face of the deep;
When He established the heavens, I was there; when He set a circle upon the face of the deep,
28 When he fastened the skies above; when the springs of the deep became strong;
When He made firm the skies above, when the fountains of the deep showed their might,
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:
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 Then was I near him, as a nursling: and I was day by day [his] delights, playing before him at all times;
Then I was by Him, as a nursling; and I was daily all delight, playing always before Him,
31 Playing in the world, his earth; and having my delights with the sons of men.
Playing in His habitable earth, and my delights are with the sons of men.
32 And now, O children [of men], hearken unto me! for happy those that observe my ways.
Now therefore, ye children, hearken unto me; for happy are they that keep my ways.
33 Hear correction, and be wise, and reject it not.
Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
34 Happy is the man that hearkeneth unto me, watching day by day at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
Happy is the man that hearkeneth to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 For he who findeth me findeth life, and he obtaineth favor from the Lord.
For whoso findeth me findeth life, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
36 But he that sinneth against me doth violence to his own soul: all those that hate me love death.
But he that misseth me wrongeth his own soul; all they that hate me love death.'
