< Proverbs 8 >

1 Does not Wisdom call out? Does not Understanding raise her voice?
You shall proclaim wisdom, that understanding may be obedient to you.
2 On the hilltops beside the road, at the crossroads, Wisdom has taken her stand.
For she is on lofty eminences, and stands in the midst of the ways.
3 Before the gates at the entrance into the city, at the entrances into the city, she calls out.
For she sits by the gates of princes, and sings in the entrances, [saying],
4 “It is to you, people, that I call; my voice is for the sons of mankind.
You, O men, I exhort; and utter my voice to the sons of men.
5 You who are naive, learn wisdom; and you who are foolish, you must get an understanding mind.
O you simple, understand subtlety, and you that are untaught, imbibe knowledge.
6 Listen, because I will speak of noble things, and when my lips open I will say upright things.
Listen to me; for I will speak solemn [truths]; and will produce right [sayings] from my lips.
7 For my mouth speaks what is trustworthy, and wickedness is disgusting to my lips.
For my throat shall meditate truth; and false lips are an abomination before me.
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 in them wrong or perverse.
9 All of them are straight for the person who understands; my words are upright for those who find knowledge.
They are all evident to those that understand, and right to those that find knowledge.
10 Acquire my instruction rather than silver; acquire knowledge rather than pure gold.
Receive instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than tried gold.
11 For Wisdom is better than jewels; no treasure is equal to her.
For wisdom is better than precious stones; and no valuable substance is of equal worth with it.
12 I, Wisdom, live with Prudence, and I possess knowledge and discretion.
I wisdom have lived [with] counsel and knowledge, and I have called upon understanding.
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 hates unrighteousness, and insolence, and pride, and the ways of wicked men; and I hate the perverse ways of bad men.
14 I have good advice and sound wisdom; I am insight; strength belongs to me.
Counsel and safety are mine; prudence is mine, and strength 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 nobles become great, and monarchs by me rule over the earth.
17 I love those who love me, and those who diligently seek me, find me.
I love those that love me; and they that seek me shall find [me].
18 With me are riches and honor, lasting wealth and righteousness.
Wealth and glory belong to me; yes, abundant possessions and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold; my produce is better than pure silver.
[It is] better to have my fruit than [to have] gold and precious stones; and my produce is better than choice silver.
20 I walk in the path of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice.
I walk in ways of righteousness, and [am] conversant with the paths of judgment;
21 As a result, I make those who love me inherit wealth; I fill up their treasuries.
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 Yahweh created me at the beginning, the first of his deeds then.
The Lord made me the beginning of his ways for his works.
23 In ages long ago I was made—from the first, from the beginnings of the earth.
He established me before time [was] in the beginning, before he made the earth:
24 Before there were oceans, I was given birth— before there were springs abounding with water.
even before he made the depths; before the fountains of water came forth:
25 Before the mountains were settled and before the hills, I was born.
before the mountains were settled, and before all hills, he begets me.
26 I was born before Yahweh had made the earth or the fields, or even the first dust in the world.
The Lord made countries and uninhabited [tracks], and the highest inhabited parts 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 prepared the heaven, I was present with him; and when he prepared his throne upon the winds:
28 I was there when he established the clouds above and when the springs in the deep became fixed.
and when he strengthened the clouds above; and when he secured the fountains of the earth:
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.
decree. and when he strengthened 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.
I was by him, suiting [myself to him], I was that wherein he took delight; and daily I rejoiced in his presence continually.
31 I was rejoicing in his whole world, and my delight was in the sons of mankind.
For he rejoiced when he had completed the world, and rejoiced among the children of men.
32 Now, my sons, listen to me, for those who keep my ways will be blessed.
Now then, [my] son, hear me: blessed is the man who shall listen to me, and the mortal who shall keep my ways;
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not neglect it.
[Hear wisdom and be wise, and be not strangers to it. ]
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.
watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my entrances.
35 For whoever finds me, finds life, and he will find the favor of Yahweh.
For my outgoings are the outgoings of life, and [in them] is prepared favor from the Lord.
36 But he who fails, harms his own life; all who hate me love death.”
But they that sin against me act wickedly against their own souls: and they that hate me love death.

< Proverbs 8 >