Proverbs 8

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

2At the top of the heights beside the road, at the doorways of the paths, she stands.

3Beside the gates, at the mouth of the city, at the coming in of the doorways, she cries aloud.

4To you, men, I call; my voice to the sons of man.

5You simple ones, understand shrewdness; you fools, understand with the heart.

6Listen, for I will speak noble things; the opening of my lips is upright things.

7For my mouth utters truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

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

9All are plain to one who understands, and straight to those who find knowledge.

10Take my discipline, not silver; knowledge, not choice gold.

11For wisdom is better than rubies, and all desirable things cannot equal it.

12I, Wisdom, live with prudence and possess knowledge and discretion.

13To fear Yahweh is to hate evil: pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth I hate.

14Counsel and sound wisdom are mine; I am understanding; might is mine.

15Through me kings reign, and rulers decree justice.

16By me princes rule, nobles and all righteous judges.

17I love my lovers who love me, and those who seek me early will find me.

18Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness.

19My fruit is better than gold, than fine gold; my gain than choice silver.

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

21to cause those who love me to inherit wealth, and fill their treasuries.

22Yahweh acquired me at the beginning of his course, before his ancient works.

23I was founded from everlasting, from the first, before the earth.

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

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

26before he had made the earth, the fields, or the beginning of the dust of the world.

27When he founded the heavens, I was there; when he traced the circle over the face of the deep.

28When he strengthened the clouds on high, when he made the deep's springs firm.

29when he appointed a boundary for the sea, that the waters should not transgress his command, when he decreed the foundations of the earth.

30I was beside him as one brought up with him, and I was his delight day by day, playing before him at all times.

31Playing in the inhabited world, his earth, and my delights were with the sons of men.

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

33Listen to instruction and be wise, and do not reject it.

34Blessed is the person who listens to me, watching day by day at my doors, guarding the doorposts of my entrances.

35For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from Yahweh.

36Whoever sins against me harms his own soul; all who hate me love death.