Proverbs 8
1 Doth not wisdom call, and understanding put forth her voice?
Doth not wisdom cry aloud, And understanding put forth her voice?
2 In the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she standeth;
Upon the top of the high places, By the wayside, In the cross-ways, She taketh her station.
3 Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud:
By the side of the gates, In the entrance of the city, In the approaches to the doors, she crieth aloud.
4 'Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.
“To you, O men! do I call, And my voice is to the sons of men!
5 O ye thoughtless, understand prudence, 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 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 utter 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 perverse or crooked 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 things desirable are not to be compared unto her.
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 devices.
“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 arrogancy, 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, power is mine.
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 earnestly shall find me.
I love them that love me, And they who seek me early shall find me.
18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, enduring riches and righteousness.
Riches and honor are with me; Yea, durable riches and prosperity.
19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my produce than choice silver.
My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold. And my revenue than choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice;
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 that I may fill their treasuries.
I cause those who love me to possess substance; Yea, I fill their treasuries.
22 The LORD made me as the beginning of His way, the first of 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 beginning 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 established the heavens, I was there; when He set a circle upon the face of the deep,
When he framed the heavens, I was there; When he drew a circle upon the face of the deep;
28 When He made firm the skies above, when the fountains of the deep showed their might,
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 transgress 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 a nursling; and I was daily all delight, playing 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 Playing in His habitable earth, and my delights are 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, ye children, hearken unto me; for happy 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 Happy is the man that hearkeneth to 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 whoso findeth me findeth life, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
For he that findeth me findeth life, And obtaineth favor from the LORD;
36 But he that misseth 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.”
