Proverbs 8
1 Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
Does not wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice?
2 She standeth on the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads she takes her stand.
3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entrance of the doors.
Beside the gates to the city, at the entrances she cries out:
4 To you, O men, I call; and my voice [is] to the sons of man.
“To you, O men, I call out, and my cry is to the sons of men.
5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding.
6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips [shall be] right things.
Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right.
7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness [is] an abomination to my lips.
For my mouth will speak the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth [are] in righteousness; [there is] nothing froward or perverse in them.
All the words of my mouth are righteous; none are crooked or perverse.
9 They [are] all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
They are all plain to the discerning, and upright to those who find knowledge.
10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.
11 For wisdom [is] better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her.
12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of ingenious inventions.
I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.
13 The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil: pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.
14 Counsel [is] mine, and sound wisdom: I [am] understanding; I have strength.
Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength.
15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
By me kings reign, and rulers enact just laws;
16 By me princes rule, and nobles, [even] all the judges of the earth.
By me princes rule, and all nobles who govern justly.
17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.
18 Riches and honor [are] with me; durable riches and righteousness.
With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and righteousness.
19 My fruit [is] better than gold, yes, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
My fruit is better than gold, pure gold, and my harvest surpasses choice silver.
20 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment.
I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.
22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
The LORD created me as His first course, before His works of old.
23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began.
24 When [there were] no depths, I was brought forth; when [there were] no fountains abounding with water.
When there were no watery depths, I was brought forth, when no springs were overflowing with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth.
Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth,
26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
before He made the land or fields, or any of the dust of the earth.
27 When he prepared the heavens, I [was] there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
I was there when He established the heavens, when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,
28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth,
29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
when He set a boundary for the sea, so that the waters would not surpass His command, when He marked out the foundations of the earth.
30 Then I was by him, [as] one brought up [with him]: and I was daily [his] delight, rejoicing always before him;
Then I was a skilled craftsman at His side, and His delight day by day, rejoicing always in His presence.
31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights [were] with the sons of men.
I was rejoicing in His whole world, delighting together in the sons of men.
32 Now therefore hearken to me, O ye children: for blessed [are they that] keep my ways.
Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.
34 Blessed [is] the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway.
35 For whoever findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favor from the LORD.
For whoever finds me finds life and obtains the favor of the LORD.
36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
But he who fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.”
