Proverbs 8
1 Does not wisdom cry out? Does not understanding raise her voice?
Behold, wisdom calleth, and understanding sendeth forth her voice,
2 On the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she stands.
On the top of high places, by the wayside, at the house where there are [many] paths doth she place herself.
3 Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entry doors, she cries aloud:
Alongside of gates, at the opening of the city, at the entrance of the town[-doors] doth she call loudly,
4 “I call to you men! I send my voice to the sons of mankind.
Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice [goeth forth] to the sons of men,
5 You simple, understand prudence! You fools, be 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 excellent things. The opening of my lips is for 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 speaks truth. 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 crooked 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 who understands, right to those who find knowledge.
They are all evident to the man of understanding, and correct to those that have obtained knowledge.
10 Receive my instruction rather than silver, knowledge rather than choice gold.
Accept my correction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 For wisdom is better than rubies. All the things that may be desired cannot 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, have made prudence my dwelling. Find out knowledge and discretion.
I wisdom dwell with prudence, and the knowledge of discreet thoughts do I discover.
13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.
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 and sound knowledge are mine. I have understanding and power.
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, nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth.
Through me do princes rule, and the nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17 I love those who love me. Those who seek me diligently will find me.
I indeed love those that love me: and those that seek me earnestly shall find me.
18 With me are riches, honor, enduring wealth, and prosperity.
Riches and honor are with me, yea, enduring wealth and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, my yield than choice silver.
My fruit is better than gold, and than fine gold; and my products, than choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness, in the middle of the paths of justice,
On the road of righteousness do I walk firmly, in the midst the paths of justice:
21 that I may give wealth to those who love me. I fill their treasuries.
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 work, before his deeds 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, before the earth existed.
From eternity was I appointed chief, from the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth.
24 When there were no depths, I was born, when there were no springs 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 in place, before the hills, I was born;
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 beginning 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 established the heavens, I was there. When he set a circle on the surface of the deep,
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 the springs of the deep became strong,
When he fastened the skies above; when the springs of the deep became strong;
29 when he gave to the sea its boundary, that the waters should not violate his commandment, when he marked out 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 the craftsman by his side. I was a delight day by day, always rejoicing 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 his whole world. My delight was with the sons of men.
Playing in the world, his earth; and having my delights with the sons of men.
32 “Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who 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. Do not refuse it.
Hear correction, and be wise, and reject it not.
34 Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my door posts.
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 finds me finds life, and will obtain favor from the LORD.
For he who findeth me findeth life, and he obtaineth favor from the Lord.
36 But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death.”
But he that sinneth against me doth violence to his own soul: all those that hate me love death.
