Proverbs 8
1 Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
Is not wisdom crying out, and the voice of knowledge sounding?
2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
At the top of the highways, at the meeting of the roads, she takes her place;
3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
Where the roads go into the town her cry goes out, at the doorways her voice is loud:
4 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice [is] to the sons of man.
I am crying out to you, O men; my voice comes to the sons of men.
5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
Become expert in reason, O you simple ones; you foolish ones, take training to heart.
6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips [shall be] right things.
Give ear, for my words are true, and my lips are open to give out what is upright.
7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness [is] an abomination to my lips.
For good faith goes out of my mouth, and false lips are disgusting to me.
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 righteousness; there is nothing false or twisted in them.
9 They [are] all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
They are all true to him whose mind is awake, and straightforward to those who get knowledge.
10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
Take my teaching, and not silver; get knowledge in place of the best 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 jewels, and all things which may be desired are nothing in comparison with her.
12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
I, wisdom, have made wise behaviour my near relation; I am seen to be the special friend of wise purposes.
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 seen in hating evil: pride, a high opinion of oneself, the evil way, and the false tongue, are unpleasing to me.
14 Counsel [is] mine, and sound wisdom: I [am] understanding; I have strength.
Wise design and good sense are mine; reason and strength are mine.
15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
Through me kings have their power, and rulers give right decisions.
16 By me princes rule, and nobles, [even] all the judges of the earth.
Through me chiefs have authority, and the noble ones are judging in righteousness.
17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
Those who have given me their love are loved by me, and those who make search for me with care will get me.
18 Riches and honour [are] with me; [yea], durable riches and righteousness.
Wealth and honour are in my hands, even wealth without equal and righteousness.
19 My fruit [is] better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
My fruit is better than gold, even than the best gold; and my increase is more to be desired than silver.
20 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
I go in the road of righteousness, in the way of right judging:
21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
So that I may give my lovers wealth for their heritage, making their store-houses full.
22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
The Lord made me as the start of his way, the first of his works in the past.
23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
From eternal days I was given my place, from the birth of time, before the earth was.
24 When [there were] no depths, I was brought forth; when [there were] no fountains abounding with water.
When there was no deep I was given birth, when there were no fountains flowing with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:
Before the mountains were put in their places, before the hills was my birth:
26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
When he had not made the earth or the fields or 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 made ready the heavens I was there: when he put an arch over the face of the deep:
28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
When he made strong the skies overhead: when the fountains of the deep were fixed:
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 put a limit to the sea, so that the waters might not go against his word: when he put in position the bases 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 I was by his side, as a master workman: and I was his delight from day to day, 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 his earth; and my delight was with the sons of men.
32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed [are they that] keep my ways.
Give ear to me then, my sons: for happy are those who keep my ways.
33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
Take my teaching and be wise; do not let it go.
34 Blessed [is] the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
Happy is the man who gives ear to me, watching at my doors day by day, keeping his place by the pillars of my house.
35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
For whoever gets me gets life, and grace from the Lord will come to him.
36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
But he who does evil to me, does wrong to his soul: all my haters are in love with death.
