Proverbs 8

₁Does not wisdom call out?

Does not understanding raise her voice?

₂At the highest point along the way,

where the paths meet, she takes her stand;

₃beside the gate leading into the city,

at the entrance, she cries aloud:

₄‘To you, O people, I call out;

I raise my voice to all humanity.

₅You who are simple, gain prudence;

you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.

₆Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say;

I open my lips to speak what is right.

₇My mouth speaks what is true,

for my lips detest wickedness.

₈All the words of my mouth are just;

none of them is crooked or perverse.

₉To the discerning all of them are right;

they are upright to those who have found knowledge.

₁₀Choose my instruction instead of silver,

knowledge rather than choice gold,

₁₁for wisdom is more precious than rubies,

and nothing you desire can compare with her.

₁₂‘I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;

I possess knowledge and discretion.

₁₃To fear the Lord is to hate evil;

I hate pride and arrogance,

evil behaviour and perverse speech.

₁₄Counsel and sound judgment are mine;

I have insight, I have power.

₁₅By me kings reign

and rulers issue decrees that are just;

₁₆by me princes govern,

and nobles – all who rule on earth.

₁₇I love those who love me,

and those who seek me find me.

₁₈With me are riches and honour,

enduring wealth and prosperity.

₁₉My fruit is better than fine gold;

what I yield surpasses choice silver.

₂₀I walk in the way of righteousness,

along the paths of justice,

₂₁bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me

and making their treasuries full.

₂₂‘The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works,,

before his deeds of old;

₂₃I was formed long ages ago,

at the very beginning, when the world came to be.

₂₄When there were no watery depths, I was given birth,

when there were no springs overflowing with water;

₂₅before the mountains were settled in place,

before the hills, I was given birth,

₂₆before he made the world or its fields

or any of the dust of the earth.

₂₇I was there when he set the heavens in place,

when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,

₂₈when he established the clouds above

and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,

₂₉when he gave the sea its boundary

so that the waters would not overstep his command,

and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.

₃₀Then I was constantly at his side.

I was filled with delight day after day,

rejoicing always in his presence,

₃₁rejoicing in his whole world

and delighting in the human race.

₃₂‘Now then, my children, listen to me;

blessed are those who keep my ways.

₃₃Listen to my instruction and be wise;

do not disregard it.

₃₄Blessed are those who listen to me,

watching daily at my doors,

waiting at my doorway.

₃₅For those who find me find life

and receive favour from the Lord.

₃₆But those who fail to find me harm themselves;

all who hate me love death.’