Proverbs 8 "Wisdom's Call"

Proverbs 8 "Wisdom's Call"

¹ Does not wisdom call out?

Does not understanding raise her voice?

² On the heights along the way,

where the paths meet, she takes her stand;

³ beside the gates leading into the city,

at the entrances, she cries aloud:

⁴ "To you, O men, I call out;

I raise my voice to all mankind.

⁵ You who are simple, gain prudence;

you who are foolish, gain understanding.

⁶ Listen, for I have worthy things to say;

I open my lips to speak what is right.

⁷ My mouth speaks what is true,

for my lips detest wickedness.

⁸ All the words of my mouth are just;

none of them is crooked or perverse.

⁹ To the discerning all of them are right;

they are faultless to those who have knowledge.

¹⁰ Choose my instruction instead of silver,

knowledge rather than choice gold,

¹¹ for wisdom is more precious than rubies,

and nothing you desire can compare with her.

¹² "I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;

I possess knowledge and discretion.

¹³ To fear the LORD is to hate evil;

I hate pride and arrogance,

evil behavior and perverse speech.

¹⁴ Counsel and sound judgment are mine;

I have understanding and power.

¹⁵ By me kings reign

and rulers make laws that are just;

¹⁶ by me princes govern,

and all nobles who rule on earth.

¹⁷ I love those who love me,

and those who seek me find me.

¹⁸ With me are riches and honor,

enduring wealth and prosperity.

¹⁹ My fruit is better than fine gold;

what I yield surpasses choice silver.

²⁰ I walk in the way of righteousness,

along the paths of justice,

²¹ bestowing wealth on those who love me

and making their treasuries full.

²² "The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works,

before his deeds of old;

²³ I was appointed from eternity,

from the beginning, before the world began.

²⁴ When there were no oceans, I was given birth,

when there were no springs abounding with water;

²⁵ before the mountains were settled in place,

before the hills, I was given birth,

²⁶ before he made the earth or its fields

or any of the dust of the world.

²⁷ I was there when he set the heavens in place,

when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,

²⁸ when he established the clouds above

and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,

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.

³⁰ Then I was the craftsman at his side.

I was filled with delight day after day,

rejoicing always in his presence,

³¹ rejoicing in his whole world

and delighting in mankind.

³² "Now then, my sons, listen to me;

blessed are those who keep my ways.

³³ Listen to my instruction and be wise;

do not ignore it.

³⁴ Blessed is the man who listens to me,

watching daily at my doors,

waiting at my doorway.

³⁵ For whoever finds me finds life

and receives favor from the LORD.

³⁶ But whoever fails to find me harms himself;

all who hate me love death."