Proverbs 8
1Does not wisdom call out, and prudence bestow her voice?
2At the summits and the tops of exalted places, standing above the ways, in the midst of the paths,
3beside the gates of the city, at the very doors, she speaks, saying:
4“O men, to you I call out, and my voice is to the sons of men.
5O little ones, understand discernment. And you who are unwise, turn your souls.
6Listen, for I will speak about great things, and my lips will be opened, so as to foretell what is right.
7My throat shall practice truth, and my lips shall detest the impious.
8All my words are just. There is no depravity in them, and no perversity.
9They are upright to those who understand, and equitable to those who discover knowledge.
10Accept my discipline, and not money. Choose the doctrine that is greater than gold.
11For wisdom is better than all that is most precious, and everything that is desirable cannot compare to her.
12I, wisdom, dwell in counsel, and I am inside learned thoughts.
13The fear of the Lord hates evil. I detest arrogance, and pride, and every wicked way, and a mouth with a double tongue.
14Counsel is mine, and equity. Prudence is mine. Strength is mine.
15Through me, kings reign and legislators decree just conditions.
16Through me, princes rule and the powerful decree justice.
17I love those who love me. And those who stand watch for me until morning shall discover me.
18With me, are wealth and glory, superb riches and justice.
19For my fruit is better than gold and precious stones, and my progeny better than choice silver.
20I walk in the way of justice, in the midst of the paths of judgment,
21so that I may enrich those who love me, and thus complete their treasures.
22The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his ways, before he made anything, from the beginning.
23I was ordained from eternity, and out of antiquity, before the earth was formed.
24The abyss did not yet exist, and I was already conceived; neither had the fountains of waters yet erupted.
25The mountains, with their great mass, had not yet been established. Before the hills, I was brought forth.
26Still he had not made the earth, and the rivers, and the poles of the globe of the earth.
27I was already present: when he prepared the heavens; when, with a certain law and a circuit, he fortified the abyss;
28when he made firm the sky above, and set free the fountains of waters;
29when he encompassed the sea within its limits, and laid down a law for the waters, lest they transgress their limits; when he weighed the foundations of the earth.
30I was with him in composing all things. And I was delighted, throughout every day, by playing in his sight at all times,
31playing in globe of the earth. And my delight was to be with the sons of men.
32Therefore, sons, hear me now. Blessed are those who preserve my ways.
33Listen to discipline, and become wise, and do not be willing to cast it aside.
34Blessed is the man who listens to me, and who stands watch at my gates every day, and who observes at the posts of my doors.
35He who finds me, finds life, and he will draw salvation from the Lord.
36But he who sins against me will wound his own soul. All who hate me love death.”
1Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
2She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
3She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
4Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
5O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
6Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
7For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.
9They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
10Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
12I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
13The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
14Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
15By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
18Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
19My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
20I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
21That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
22The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
23I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
24When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
25Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:
26While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
27When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
28When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
29When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
30Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
31Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
32Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
33Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
34Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord.
36But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.