Proverbs 8

1 Does wisdom not call? And understanding give forth her voice?

2 At the head of high places by the way, She has stood between the paths,

3 At the side of the gates, at the mouth of the city, The entrance of the openings, she cries aloud,

4 “To you, O men, I call, And my voice [is] to the sons of men.

5 Understand, you simple ones, prudence, And you fools, understand the heart,

6 Listen, for I speak noble things, And the opening of my lips [is] uprightness.

7 For my mouth utters truth, And wickedness [is] an abomination to my lips.

8 All the sayings of my mouth [are] in righteousness, Nothing in them is contrary and perverse.

9 All of them [are] plain to the intelligent, And upright to those finding knowledge.

10 Receive my instruction, and not silver, And knowledge rather than choice gold.

11 For wisdom [is] better than rubies, Indeed, all delights are not comparable with it.

12 I, wisdom, have dwelt with prudence, And I find out a knowledge of purposes.

13 The fear of YHWH [is] to hate evil; Pride, and arrogance, and an evil way, And a contrary mouth, I have hated.

14 Counsel and substance [are] mine, I [am] understanding, I have might.

15 By me kings reign, and princes decree righteousness,

16 By me chiefs rule, and nobles, All judges of earth.

17 I love those loving me, And those seeking me earnestly find me.

18 Wealth and honor [are] with me, Lasting substance and righteousness.

19 My fruit [is] better than gold, even fine gold, And my increase than choice silver.

20 I cause to walk in a path of righteousness, In midst of paths of judgment,

21 To cause my lovers to inherit substance, Indeed, I fill their treasures.

22 YHWH possessed me—the beginning of His way, Before His works since then.

23 I was anointed from the age, from the first, From former states of the earth.

24 In there being no depths, I was brought forth, In there being no fountains heavy [with] waters,

25 Before mountains were sunk, Before heights, I was brought forth.

26 While He had not made the earth, and out-places, And the top of the dusts of the world.

27 In His preparing the heavens I [am] there, In His decreeing a circle on the face of the deep,

28 In His strengthening clouds above, In His making strong fountains of the deep,

29 In His setting for the sea its limit, And the waters do not transgress His command, In His decreeing the foundations of earth,

30 Then I am near Him, a workman, And I am a delight—day by day. Rejoicing before Him at all times,

31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth, And my delights [are] with the sons of men.

32 And now, you sons, listen to me, Indeed, blessed are they who keep my ways.

33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and do not slight.

34 O the blessedness of the man listening to me, To watch at my doors day by day, To watch at the doorposts of my entrance.

35 For whoever is finding me, has found life, And brings out goodwill from YHWH.

36 And whoever is missing me, is wronging his soul, All hating me have loved death!”