Proverbs 8

Listen to Wisdom

1 Wisdom calls to you like someone shouting; understanding raises her voice.

2 On the hilltops along the road and at the crossroads, she stands calling.

3 Beside the city gates, at the entrances into the city, she calls out:

4 “Listen, everyone, I’m calling out to you; I am shouting to all people.

5 You who are uneducated, seek wisdom. You who are foolish, get understanding.

6 Listen, because I have important things to say, and what I tell you is right.

7 What I say is true, I refuse to speak evil.

8 Everything I say is honest; nothing I say is crooked or false.

9 People with good sense know what I say is true; and those with knowledge know my words are right.

10 Choose my teachings instead of silver, and knowledge rather than the finest gold.

11 Wisdom is more precious than rubies. Nothing you could want is equal to it.

12 “I am wisdom, and I have good judgment. I also have knowledge and good sense.

13 If you respect the Lord, you will also hate evil. I hate pride and bragging, evil ways and lies.

14 I have good sense and advice, and I have understanding and power.

15 I help kings to govern and rulers to make fair laws.

16 Princes use me to lead, and so do all important people who judge fairly.

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

18 Riches and honor are mine to give. So are wealth and lasting success.

19 What I give is better than the finest gold, better than the purest silver.

20 I do what is right and follow the path of justice.

21 I give wealth to those who love me, filling their houses with treasures.

22 “I, wisdom, was with the Lord when he began his work, long before he made anything else.

23 I was created in the very beginning, even before the world began.

24 I was born before there were oceans, or springs overflowing with water,

25 before the hills were there, before the mountains were put in place.

26 God had not made the earth or fields, not even the first dust of the earth.

27 I was there when God put the skies in place, when he stretched the horizon over the oceans,

28 when he made the clouds above and put the deep underground springs in place.

29 I was there when he ordered the sea not to go beyond the borders he had set.
I was there when he laid the earth’s foundation.

30 I was like a child by his side.
I was delighted every day, enjoying his presence all the time,

31 enjoying the whole world, and delighted with all its people.

32 “Now, my children, listen to me, because those who follow my ways are happy.

33 Listen to my teaching, and you will be wise; do not ignore it.

34 Happy are those who listen to me, watching at my door every day, waiting at my open doorway.

35 Those who find me find life, and the Lord will be pleased with them.
36 Those who do not find me hurt themselves. Those who hate me love death.”

Proverbs 8

1 Doth not wisdom cry, And understanding put forth her voice?

2 On the top of high places by the way, Where the paths meet, she standeth;

3 Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, At the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud:

4 Unto you, O men, I call; And my voice is to the sons of men.

5 O ye simple, understand prudence; And, ye fools, be of an understanding heart.

6 Hear, for I will speak excellent things; And the opening of my lips shall be right things.

7 For my mouth shall utter truth; And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; There is nothing crooked 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 unto it.

12 I wisdom have made prudence my dwelling, And find out knowledge and discretion.

13 The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil: Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, And the perverse mouth, do I hate.

14 Counsel is mine, and sound knowledge: I am understanding; I have might.

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 diligently shall find me.

18 Riches and honor are with me; Yea, durable wealth and righteousness.

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

20 I walk in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice;

21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, And that I may fill their treasuries.

22 Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, Before his works of old.

23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, Before 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 beginning of the dust of the world.

27 When he established the heavens, I was there: When he set a circle upon the face of the deep,

28 When he made firm the skies above, When the fountains of the deep became strong,

29 When he gave to the sea its bound, That the waters should not transgress his commandment, When he marked out the foundations of the earth;

30 Then I was by him, as a master workman; And I was daily his delight, Rejoicing always before him,

31 Rejoicing in his habitable earth; And my delight was with the sons of men.

32 Now therefore, my sons, hearken unto me; 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 favor of Jehovah.

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