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." |
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