Proverbs 8

1 Does not wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice?

2 On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads she takes her stand.

3 Beside the gates to the city, at the entrances she cries out:

4 “To you, O men, I call out, and my cry is to the sons of men.

5 O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding.

6 Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right.

7 For my mouth will speak the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips.

8 All the words of my mouth are righteous; none are crooked or perverse.

9 They are all plain to the discerning, and upright to those who find knowledge.

10 Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.

11 For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her.

12 I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.

13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.

14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength.

15 By me kings reign, and rulers enact just laws;

16 By me princes rule, and all nobles who govern justly.

17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.

18 With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and righteousness.

19 My fruit is better than gold, pure gold, and my harvest surpasses choice silver.

20 I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,

21 bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.

22 The LORD created me as His first course, before His works of old.

23 From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began.

24 When there were no watery depths, I was brought forth, when no springs were overflowing with water.

25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth,

26 before He made the land or fields, or any of the dust of the earth.

27 I was there when He established the heavens, when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,

28 when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth,

29 when He set a boundary for the sea, so that the waters would not surpass His command, when He marked out the foundations of the earth.

30 Then I was a skilled craftsman at His side, and His delight day by day, rejoicing always in His presence.

31 I was rejoicing in His whole world, delighting together in the sons of men.

32 Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.

33 Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.

34 Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway.

35 For whoever finds me finds life and obtains the favor of the LORD.

36 But he who fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.”

1 ¶ Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?

2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.

3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.

4 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice [is] to the sons of man.

5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips [shall be] right things.

7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness [is] an abomination to my lips.

8 All the words of my mouth [are] in righteousness; [there is] nothing froward or perverse in them.

9 They [are] all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.

11 For wisdom [is] better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

12 ¶ I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.

13 The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

14 Counsel [is] mine, and sound wisdom: I [am] understanding; I have strength.

15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.

16 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 early shall find me.

18 Riches and honour [are] with me; [yea], durable riches and righteousness.

19 My fruit [is] better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.

20 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:

21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.

22 ¶ The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

24 When [there were] no depths, I was brought forth; when [there were] no fountains abounding with water.

25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:

26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of 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:

28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:

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:

30 Then I was by him, [as] one brought up [with him]: and I was daily [his] delight, rejoicing always before him;

31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights [were] with the sons of men.

32 ¶ Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed [are they that] keep my ways.

33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

34 Blessed [is] the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.

36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

1 Crieth not wisdom, and prudence is heard?

2 it stands publicly by the way and by the street.

3 At the gates of the city, as one entereth in at the door, she crieth out:

4 O ye men, I cry unto you, and call unto the people!

5 Mark, ye foolish, the wit; and ye fools, take it to heart.

6 Hearken, for I will speak that which is princely, and teach that which is right.

7 For my mouth shall speak truth, and my lips shall hate that which is ungodly.

8 All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing perverse or false in them.

9 They are all alike to them that hear it, and right to them that will receive it.

10 Take my discipline rather than silver, and esteem the doctrine above precious gold.

11 For wisdom is better than pearls, and all that may be desired cannot equal it.

12 I, Wisdom, dwell with the wit, and I know good counsel to give.

13 The fear of the LORD hateth evil, and pride, and arrogance, and the wicked way: and I am an enemy to the perverse mouth.

14 Both counsel and action are mine; I have understanding and might.

15 by me kings reign, and the aldermen establish justice.

16 By me the princes and all the rulers of the earth reign.

17 I love them that love me: and they that seek me early shall find me.

18 Riches and honour are with me, verily good and righteousness.

19 My fruit is better than gold and fine gold, and my revenue than choice silver.

20 I walk in the right way, in the highway of justice,

21 That I may counsel well them that love me, and fill up their treasures.

22 The LORD had me in the beginning of his ways; before he made any thing, I was there.

23 I am appointed from everlasting, from the beginning before the earth.

24 Since the deeps were not yet, I was already prepared, because the fountains were not yet welling with water,

25 Before the mountains were lowered, before the hills was I prepared.

26 He had not yet made the earth, nor the things that are therein, nor the mountains of the ground.

27 When he prepared the heavens, there was I: when he compassed the deep with his purpose,

28 When he made firm the clouds above, when he made firm the fountains of the deep,

29 When he set the purpose of the sea, and of the waters, that they should not transgress his commandment, when he laid the foundation of the earth:

30 Then was I the master of his work, and had my pleasure daily, and played before him always.

31 And played upon his ground; and my delight is with the children of men.

32 Obey me therefore, my children! Blessed are they who keep my ways!

33 Hearken unto the discipline, and be wise, and let it not go.

34 Blessed is the man that obeyeth me, that he watcheth at my door daily, that he waiteth at the posts of my door.

35 He that findeth me findeth life, and shall be well pleased of the LORD.

36 But whosoever sinneth against me hurteth his soul. All who hate me love death.