Proverbs 8

1 Does not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?

Thou shalt proclaim wisdom, that understanding may be obedient to thee.

2 She stands in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.

For she is on lofty eminences, and stands in the midst of the ways.

3 She cries at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.

For she sits by the gates of princes, and sings in the entrances, [saying],

4 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.

You, O men, I exhort; and utter my voice to the sons of men.

5 O all of you simple, understand wisdom: and, all of you fools, be all of you of an understanding heart.

O ye simple, understand subtlety, and ye that are untaught, imbibe knowledge.

6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

Hearken to me; for I will speak solemn [truths]; and will produce right [sayings] from my lips.

7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination 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 in righteousness; there is nothing perverse or perverse in them.

All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing in them wrong or perverse.

9 They are all plain to him that understands, and right to them that find knowledge.

They are all evident to those that understand, and right to those that find knowledge.

10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.

Receive instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than tried 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 precious stones; and no valuable substance is of equal worth with it.

12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.

I wisdom have dwelt [with] counsel and knowledge, and I have called upon understanding.

13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the perverse mouth, do I hate.

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 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.

Counsel and safety are mine; prudence is mine, and strength is mine.

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 nobles become great, and monarchs by me rule over the earth.

17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

I love those that love me; and they that seek me shall find [me].

18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.

Wealth and glory belong to me; yea, abundant possessions and righteousness.

19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice 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 lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:

I walk in ways of righteousness, and [am] conversant with the paths of judgment;

21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.

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 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

The Lord made me the beginning of his ways for his works.

23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, before even the earth was.

He established me before time [was] in the beginning, before he made the earth:

24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.

even before he made the depths; before the fountains of water came forth:

25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:

before the mountains were settled, and before all hills, he begets me.

26 While yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.

The Lord made countries and uninhabited [tracks], and the highest inhabited parts 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 heaven, I was present with him; and when he prepared his throne upon the winds:

28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:

and when he strengthened the clouds above; and when he secured the fountains of the earth:

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:

decree. and when he strengthened 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;

I was by him, suiting [myself to him], I was that wherein he took delight; and daily I rejoiced in his presence continually.

31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.

For he rejoiced when he had completed the world, and rejoiced among the children of men.

32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O all of you children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.

Now then, [my] son, hear me: blessed is the man who shall hearken to me, and the mortal who shall keep my ways;

33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

[Hear wisdom and be wise, and ] [be not strangers to it. ]

34 Blessed is the man that hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my entrances.

35 For whoso finds me finds life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.

For my outgoings are the outgoings of life, and [in them] is prepared favour from the Lord.

36 But he that sins against me wrongs his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

But they that sin against me act wickedly against their own souls: and they that hate me love death.