Proverbs 8

₁Doth not wisdom cry?

And understanding put forth her voice?

₂She standeth in the top of high places, by the way

In the places of the paths.

₃She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city,

At the coming in at the doors.

₄Unto you, O men, I call;

And my voice is to the sons of man.

₅O ye simple, understand wisdom:

And, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

₆Hear; for I will speak of excellent things;

And the opening of my lips shall be right things.

₇For my mouth shall speak truth;

And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

₈All the words of my mouth are in righteousness;

There is nothing froward or perverse in them.

₉They are all plain to him that understandeth,

And right to them that find knowledge.

₁₀Receive my instruction, and not silver;

And knowledge rather than choice gold.

₁₁For wisdom is better than rubies;

And all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

₁₂I wisdom dwell with prudence,

And find out knowledge of witty inventions.

₁₃The fear of the LORD is to hate evil:

Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way,

And the froward mouth, do I hate.

₁₄Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom:

I am understanding; I have strength.

₁₅By me kings reign,

And princes decree justice.

₁₆By me princes rule,

And nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

₁₇I love them that love me;

And those that seek me early shall find me.

₁₈Riches and honour are with me;

Yea, durable riches and righteousness.

₁₉My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold;

And my revenue than choice silver.

₂₀I lead in the way of righteousness,

In the midst of the paths of judgment:

₂₁That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance;

And I will fill their treasures.

₂₂The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way,

Before his works of old.

₂₃I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning,

Or ever the earth was.

₂₄When there were no depths, I was brought forth;

When there were no fountains abounding with water.

₂₅Before the mountains were settled,

Before the hills was I brought forth:

₂₆While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields,

Nor the highest part of the dust of the world.

₂₇When he prepared the heavens, I was there:

When he set a compass upon the face of the depth:

₂₈When he established the clouds above:

When he strengthened the fountains of the deep:

₂₉When he gave to the sea his decree,

That the waters should not pass his commandment:

When he appointed the foundations of the earth:

₃₀Then I was by him, as one brought up with him:

And I was daily his delight,

Rejoicing always before him;

₃₁Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth;

And my delights were with the sons of men.

₃₂Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children:

For blessed are they that keep my ways.

₃₃Hear instruction, and be wise,

And refuse it not.

₃₄Blessed is the man that heareth me,

Watching daily at my gates,

Waiting at the posts of my doors.

₃₅For whoso findeth me findeth life,

And shall obtain favour of the LORD.

₃₆But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul:

All they that hate me love death.