Proverbs 8
1 Does not Wisdom call out? Does not Understanding raise her voice?
Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
2 On the hilltops beside the road, at the crossroads, Wisdom has taken her stand.
She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
3 Before the gates at the entrance into the city, at the entrances into the city, she calls out.
She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
4 “It is to you, people, that I call; my voice is for the sons of mankind.
Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice [is] to the sons of man.
5 You who are naive, learn wisdom; and you who are foolish, you must get an understanding mind.
O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
6 Listen, because I will speak of noble things, and when my lips open I will say upright things.
Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips [shall be] right things.
7 For my mouth speaks what is trustworthy, and wickedness is disgusting to my lips.
For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness [is] an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are just; in them is nothing twisted or misleading.
All the words of my mouth [are] in righteousness; [there is] nothing froward or perverse in them.
9 All of them are straight for the person who understands; my words are upright for those who find knowledge.
They [are] all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
10 Acquire my instruction rather than silver; acquire knowledge rather than pure gold.
Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 For Wisdom is better than jewels; no treasure is equal to her.
For wisdom [is] better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
12 I, Wisdom, live with Prudence, and I possess knowledge and discretion.
I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
13 The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil. I hate pride and arrogance, the evil way, and perverted speech. I hate them.
The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
14 I have good advice and sound wisdom; I am insight; strength belongs to me.
Counsel [is] mine, and sound wisdom: I [am] understanding; I have strength.
15 By me kings reign, and rulers make laws that are just.
By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16 By me princes rule, nobles, and all who govern with justice.
By me princes rule, and nobles, [even] all the judges of the earth.
17 I love those who love me, and those who diligently seek me, find me.
I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
18 With me are riches and honor, lasting wealth and righteousness.
Riches and honour [are] with me; [yea], durable riches and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold; my produce is better than pure silver.
My fruit [is] better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
20 I walk in the path of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice.
I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
21 As a result, I make those who love me inherit wealth; I fill up their treasuries.
That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
22 Yahweh created me at the beginning, the first of his deeds then.
The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
23 In ages long ago I was made—from the first, from the beginnings of the earth.
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
24 Before there were oceans, I was given birth— before there were springs abounding with water.
When [there were] no depths, I was brought forth; when [there were] no fountains abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled and before the hills, I was born.
Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:
26 I was born before Yahweh had made the earth or the fields, or even the first dust in the world.
While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
27 I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew a circle on the surface of the deep.
When he prepared the heavens, I [was] there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
28 I was there when he established the clouds above and when the springs in the deep became fixed.
When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
29 I was there when he made his limit for the sea, so the waters should not spread beyond his command, and when there was set the limit for the foundations of the dry land.
When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
30 I was beside him, as a skilled craftsman; I was his delight day after day, always rejoicing before him.
Then I was by him, [as] one brought up [with him: ] and I was daily [his] delight, rejoicing always before him;
31 I was rejoicing in his whole world, and my delight was in the sons of mankind.
Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights [were] with the sons of men.
32 Now, my sons, listen to me, for those who keep my ways will be blessed.
Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed [are they that] keep my ways.
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not neglect it.
Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
34 The one who listens to me will be blessed. He will be watching every day at my doors, waiting beside the posts of my doors.
Blessed [is] the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 For whoever finds me, finds life, and he will find the favor of Yahweh.
For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
36 But he who fails, harms his own life; all who hate me love death.”
But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
