Proverbs 8
1 Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
Behold, wisdom calleth, and understanding sendeth forth her voice,
2 She standeth on the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
On the top of high places, by the wayside, at the house where there are [many] paths doth she place herself.
3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entrance of the doors.
Alongside of gates, at the opening of the city, at the entrance of the town[-doors] doth she call loudly,
4 To you, O men, I call; and my voice [is] to the sons of man.
Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice [goeth forth] to the sons of men,
5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
Learn, O ye simple, to understand prudence: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips [shall be] right things.
Hear! for of noble things will I speak; and the opening of my lips shall be of what is equitable.
7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness [is] an abomination to my lips.
For truth uttereth my palate ever, and the abomination of my lips is wickedness.
8 All the words of my mouth [are] in righteousness; [there is] nothing froward or perverse in them.
In righteousness are all the sayings of my mouth, there is in them nothing crooked or perverse.
9 They [are] all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
They are all evident to the man of understanding, and correct to those that have obtained knowledge.
10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
Accept my correction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice 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 better than pearls; and all the things that men wish for are not equal to her.
12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of ingenious inventions.
I wisdom dwell with prudence, and the knowledge of discreet thoughts do I discover.
13 The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil: pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil, pride and arrogance, and the evil way: and the mouth of perverseness do I hate.
14 Counsel [is] mine, and sound wisdom: I [am] understanding; I have strength.
Mine are counsel and sound wisdom: I am understanding; mine is might.
15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
Through me do kings reign, and chieftains give decrees [in] righteousness.
16 By me princes rule, and nobles, [even] all the judges of the earth.
Through me do princes rule, and the nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
I indeed love those that love me: and those that seek me earnestly shall find me.
18 Riches and honor [are] with me; durable riches and righteousness.
Riches and honor are with me, yea, 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, and than fine gold; and my products, than choice silver.
20 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment.
On the road of righteousness do I walk firmly, in the midst the paths of justice:
21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
That I may cause those that love me to inherit a lasting possession; and their treasures will I fill
22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
The Lord created me as the beginning of his way, the first of his works from the commencement,
23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
From eternity was I appointed chief, from the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth.
24 When [there were] no depths, I was brought forth; when [there were] no fountains abounding with water.
When there were yet no depths, was I brought forth; when there were yet no springs laden heavily with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth.
Before the mountains were yet sunk down, before the hills was I 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.
While as yet he had not made the land and open fields, nor the chief of the dust of the world.
27 When he prepared the heavens, I [was] there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
When he prepared the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle over the face of the deep;
28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
When he fastened the skies above; when the springs of the deep became strong;
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 assigned to the sea his decree, that the waters should not transgress his order: when he established firmly 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 was I near him, as a nursling: and I was day by day [his] delights, playing before him at all times;
31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights [were] with the sons of men.
Playing in the world, his earth; and having my delights with the sons of men.
32 Now therefore hearken to me, O ye children: for blessed [are they that] keep my ways.
And now, O children [of men], hearken unto me! for happy those that observe my ways.
33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
Hear correction, and be wise, and reject it not.
34 Blessed [is] the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
Happy is the man that hearkeneth unto me, watching day by day at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 For whoever findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favor from the LORD.
For he who findeth me findeth life, and he obtaineth favor from the Lord.
36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
But he that sinneth against me doth violence to his own soul: all those that hate me love death.
