Proverbs 8
1 Behold, wisdom calleth, and understanding sendeth forth her voice,
Doth not wisdom cry aloud, 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.
Upon the top of the high places, By the wayside, In the cross-ways, She taketh her station.
3 Alongside of gates, at the opening of the city, at the entrance of the town[-doors] doth she call loudly,
By the side of the gates, In the entrance of the city, In the approaches to the doors, she crieth aloud.
4 Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice [goeth forth] to the sons of men,
“To you, O men! do 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 simple ones! learn wisdom, 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 speak excellent things, And my lips utter that which is right.
7 For truth uttereth my palate ever, and the abomination of my lips is wickedness.
For my mouth speaketh 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 uprightness; There is nothing crooked or deceitful 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 the man of understanding, And right to those who 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 pearls, And no precious things are to be compared with her.
12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and the knowledge of discreet thoughts do I discover.
“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And find out the knowledge of sagacious counsels.
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 arrogance, and the evil way, And the deceitful mouth, do I hate.
14 Mine are counsel and sound wisdom: I am understanding; mine is might.
Counsel is mine, and sound reason; I am understanding; I have strength.
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 they who seek me early shall find me.
18 Riches and honor are with me, yea, enduring wealth and righteousness.
Riches and honor are with me; Yea, durable riches and prosperity.
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 revenue 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 equity.
21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit a lasting possession; and their treasures will I fill
I cause those who love me to possess substance; Yea, I fill their treasuries.
22 The Lord created me as the beginning of his way, the first of his works from the commencement,
“The LORD created me, the firstling of his course, Before his works, of old;
23 From eternity was I appointed chief, from the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth.
I was anointed from everlasting, From the beginning, even before the earth was made.
24 When there were yet no depths, was I brought forth; when there were yet no springs laden heavily with water.
When as yet there were no deeps, I was brought forth. When there were no springs, abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were yet sunk down, before the hills was I brought forth:
Before the mountains were settled, Yea, before the hills, I was brought forth;
26 While as yet he had not made the land and open fields, nor the chief of the dust of the world.
Ere yet he had made the land and the wastes, And the first of the clods of the earth.
27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle over the face of the deep;
When he framed the heavens, I was there; When he drew 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 sky above, And the fountains of the deep rushed forth;
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 its bounds, that the waters should not pass their border; When he marked out 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 was I by him as a master-builder; I was his delight day by day, Exulting before him at all times;
31 Playing in the world, his earth; and having my delights with the sons of men.
Exulting in the habitable part of his earth, And my delight was 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 to me! For happy are they who keep my ways!
33 Hear correction, and be wise, and reject it not.
Hear instruction, and be wise! Yea, reject 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 the man who hearkeneth to me, Who watcheth day by day at my gates, Who waiteth at the posts of my doors;
35 For he who findeth me findeth life, and he obtaineth favor from the Lord.
For he that findeth me findeth life, And obtaineth favor from the LORD;
36 But he that sinneth against me doth violence to his own soul: all those that hate me love death.
But he who misseth me doeth violence to himself; All they who hate me love death.”
