8:1 Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?
8:2 On the heights along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
8:3 beside the gates leading into the city, at the entrances, she cries aloud:
8:4 “To you, O men, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind.
8:5 You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, gain understanding.
8:6 Listen, for I have worthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right.
8:7 My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness.
8:8 All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse.
8:9 To the discerning all of them are right; they are faultless to those who have knowledge.
8:10 Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold,
8:11 for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.
8:12 “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion.
8:13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
8:14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have understanding and power.
8:15 By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just;
8:16 by me princes govern, and all nobles who rule on earth.
8:17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.
8:18 With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.
8:19 My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver.
8:20 I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
8:21 bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.
8:22 “The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old;
8:23 I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began.
8:24 When there were no oceans, I was given birth, when there were no springs abounding with water;
8:25 before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth,
8:26 before he made the earth or its fields or any of the dust of the world.
8:27 I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,
8:28 when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,
8:29 when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.
8:30 Then I was the craftsman at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence,
8:31 rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind.
8:32 “Now then, my sons, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.
8:33 Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.
8:34 Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.
8:35 For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD.
8:36 But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.”
8:1 Does not wisdom call, / And understanding lift up her voice?
8:2 On the top of the heights, by the way, / Where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
8:3 Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, / At the entrance of the doors, she cries aloud:
8:4 To you, O men, I call; / And my voice is to the sons of men.
8:5 O simple ones, understand prudence; / And, O fools, be of an understanding heart.
8:6 Hear, for I will speak noble things; / And the opening of my lips will yield right things.
8:7 For my mouth will utter truth, / And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8:8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; / There is nothing twisted or crooked in them.
8:9 They are all straight to him who understands, / And right to those who find knowledge.
8:10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; / And knowledge rather than choice gold.
8:11 For wisdom is better than corals, / And nothing that you desire compares with her.
8:12 I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, / And I find knowledge and discretion.
8:13 The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil; / Pride and arrogance and the evil way / And the perverse mouth, I hate.
8:14 Counsel is mine and sound wisdom; / I am understanding; I have might.
8:15 By me kings reign, / And rulers decree justice.
8:16 By me princes rule, / And nobles ? all who judge righteously.
8:17 I love those who love me, / And those who seek me diligently will find me.
8:18 Riches and honor are with me, / Enduring wealth and righteousness.
8:19 My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold; / And my yield than choice silver.
8:20 I walk in the way of righteousness, / In the midst of the paths of justice,
8:21 That I may cause those who love me to inherit substance / And that I may fill their treasuries.
8:22 Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of His way, / Before His works of old.
8:23 I was set up from eternity, / From the beginning, before the earth was.
8:24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth, / When there were no fountains abounding with water.
8:25 Before the mountains were settled, / Before the hills, I was brought forth;
8:26 When He had not yet made the earth and the fields, / Nor the first dust of the world.
8:27 When He established the heavens, I was there; / When He inscribed a circle upon the surface of the deep,
8:28 When He made firm the skies above, / When the fountains of the deep became strong,
8:29 When He set for the sea its boundary, / That the waters should not transgress His commandment, / When He marked out the foundations of the earth;
8:30 Then I was by Him, as a master workman; / And I was daily His delight, / Rejoicing always before Him,
8:31 Rejoicing in His habitable earth; / And my delight was in the sons of men.
8:32 Now therefore, my sons, listen to me; / For blessed are they who keep my ways.
8:33 Hear instruction, and be wise; / And do not neglect it.
8:34 Blessed is the man who listens to me, / Watching daily at my doors, / Waiting at my doorposts.
8:35 For whoever finds me finds life, / And will obtain favor from Jehovah.
8:36 But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; / All who hate me love death.