Proverbs 8
1 Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
Doth not wisdom cry aloud, And understanding put forth her voice?
2 She standeth on the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
Upon the top of the high places, By the wayside, In the cross-ways, She taketh her station.
3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entrance of the doors.
By the side of the gates, In the entrance of the city, In the approaches to the doors, she crieth aloud.
4 To you, O men, I call; and my voice [is] to the sons of man.
“To you, O men! do I call, And my voice is to the sons of men!
5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
O ye simple ones! learn wisdom, 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 I speak excellent things, And my lips utter that which is right.
7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness [is] an abomination to my lips.
For my mouth speaketh truth, And wickedness is an abomination 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 in uprightness; There is nothing crooked or deceitful in them;
9 They [are] all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
They are all plain to the man of understanding, And right to those who find knowledge.
10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
Receive my instruction, 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 no precious things are to be compared with her.
12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of ingenious inventions.
“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And find out the knowledge of sagacious counsels.
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 deceitful mouth, do I hate.
14 Counsel [is] mine, and sound wisdom: I [am] understanding; I have strength.
Counsel is mine, and sound reason; I am understanding; I have strength.
15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
By me kings reign, And princes decree justice.
16 By me princes rule, and nobles, [even] all the judges of the earth.
By me princes rule, And 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 love them that love me, And they who seek me early shall find me.
18 Riches and honor [are] with me; durable riches and righteousness.
Riches and honor are with me; Yea, durable riches and prosperity.
19 My fruit [is] better than gold, yes, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold. And my revenue than 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, In the midst of the paths of equity.
21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
I cause those who love me to possess substance; Yea, I fill their treasuries.
22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
“The LORD created me, the firstling of his course, Before his works, of old;
23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
I was anointed from everlasting, From the beginning, even before the earth was made.
24 When [there were] no depths, I was brought forth; when [there were] no fountains abounding with water.
When as yet there were no deeps, I was brought forth. When there were no springs, abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth.
Before the mountains were settled, Yea, 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.
Ere yet he had made the land and the wastes, And the first of the clods of the earth.
27 When he prepared the heavens, I [was] there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
When he framed the heavens, I was there; When he drew a circle upon the face of the deep;
28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
When he made firm the sky above, And the fountains of the deep rushed 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 gave to the sea its bounds, that the waters should not pass their border; 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 was I by him as a master-builder; I was his delight day by day, Exulting before him at all times;
31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights [were] with the sons of men.
Exulting in the habitable part of his earth, And my delight was with the sons of men.
32 Now therefore hearken to me, O ye children: for blessed [are they that] keep my ways.
“Now, therefore, ye children, hearken to me! For happy are they who keep my ways!
33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
Hear instruction, and be wise! Yea, reject it not!
34 Blessed [is] the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
Happy the man who hearkeneth to me, Who watcheth day by day at my gates, Who waiteth at the posts of my doors;
35 For whoever findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favor from the LORD.
For he that findeth me findeth life, And 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 who misseth me doeth violence to himself; All they who hate me love death.”
