Proverbs 8
1 Does not Wisdom call out? Does not Understanding raise her voice?
Doth not wisdom call, and understanding put forth her voice?
2 On the hilltops beside the road, at the crossroads, Wisdom has taken her stand.
In the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she standeth;
3 Before the gates at the entrance into the city, at the entrances into the city, she calls out.
Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud:
4 “It is to you, people, that I call; my voice is for the sons of mankind.
'Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.
5 You who are naive, learn wisdom; and you who are foolish, you must get an understanding mind.
O ye thoughtless, understand prudence, and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
6 Listen, because I will speak of noble things, and when my lips open I will say upright things.
Hear, for I will speak excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
7 For my mouth speaks what is trustworthy, and wickedness is disgusting to my lips.
For my mouth shall utter truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are just; in them is nothing twisted or misleading.
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness, there is nothing perverse or crooked in them.
9 All of them are straight for the person who understands; my words are upright for those who find knowledge.
They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
10 Acquire my instruction rather than silver; acquire knowledge rather than pure gold.
Receive my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 For Wisdom is better than jewels; no treasure is equal to her.
For wisdom is better than rubies, and all things desirable are not to be compared unto her.
12 I, Wisdom, live with Prudence, and I possess knowledge and discretion.
I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of devices.
13 The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil. I hate pride and arrogance, the evil way, and perverted speech. I hate them.
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
14 I have good advice and sound wisdom; I am insight; strength belongs to me.
Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine.
15 By me kings reign, and rulers make laws that are just.
By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16 By me princes rule, nobles, and all who govern with justice.
By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17 I love those who love me, and those who diligently seek me, find me.
I love them that love me, and those that seek me earnestly shall find me.
18 With me are riches and honor, lasting wealth and righteousness.
Riches and honour are with me; yea, enduring riches and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold; my produce is better than pure silver.
My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my produce than choice silver.
20 I walk in the path of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice.
I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice;
21 As a result, I make those who love me inherit wealth; I fill up their treasuries.
That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, and that I may fill their treasuries.
22 Yahweh created me at the beginning, the first of his deeds then.
The LORD made me as the beginning of His way, the first of His works of old.
23 In ages long ago I was made—from the first, from the beginnings of the earth.
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
24 Before there were oceans, I was given birth— before there were springs abounding with water.
When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled and before the hills, I was born.
Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth;
26 I was born before Yahweh had made the earth or the fields, or even the first dust in the world.
While as yet He had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
27 I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew a circle on the surface of the deep.
When He established the heavens, I was there; when He set a circle upon the face of the deep,
28 I was there when he established the clouds above and when the springs in the deep became fixed.
When He made firm the skies above, when the fountains of the deep showed their might,
29 I was there when he made his limit for the sea, so the waters should not spread beyond his command, and when there was set the limit for the foundations of the dry land.
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 I was beside him, as a skilled craftsman; I was his delight day after day, always rejoicing before him.
Then I was by Him, as a nursling; and I was daily all delight, playing always before Him,
31 I was rejoicing in his whole world, and my delight was in the sons of mankind.
Playing in His habitable earth, and my delights are with the sons of men.
32 Now, my sons, listen to me, for those who keep my ways will be blessed.
Now therefore, ye children, hearken unto me; for happy are they that keep my ways.
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not neglect it.
Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
34 The one who listens to me will be blessed. He will be watching every day at my doors, waiting beside 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 whoever finds me, finds life, and he will find the favor of Yahweh.
For whoso findeth me findeth life, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
36 But he who fails, harms his own life; all who hate me love death.”
But he that misseth me wrongeth his own soul; all they that hate me love death.'
