Proverbs 8

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

2On the heights beside the road, at the crossroads she takes her stand.

3Beside the gates, at the mouth of the city, at the entrances, she cries out.

4I call to you, men, and raise my voice to all humanity.

5Learn prudence, you simple ones; and learn understanding, you fools.

6Listen, for I will speak noble things, and my lips will open to speak what is right.

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

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

9All of them are straightforward to the one who understands, and right to those who find knowledge.

10Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold.

11For wisdom is better than jewels, and no desirable thing can compare with her.

12I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge of discretion.

13The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, the evil way, and a perverse mouth.

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

15By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just.

16By me rulers rule, and nobles—all who judge justly.

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

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

19My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver.

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

21to endow those who love me with wealth, and to fill their treasuries.

22Yahweh possessed me at the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

23From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, from before the earth.

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

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

26before he had made the earth and the open country, or the world's first dust.

27When he established the heavens, I was there, when he inscribed a circle on the face of the deep.

28when he made the skies firm above, when he strengthened the springs of the deep,

29when he set a boundary for the sea, so that the waters would not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,

30Then I was beside him, a skilled worker; and I was a delight day after day, playing before him at all times,

31rejoicing in his inhabited world, and my delight was with humankind.

32And now, sons, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.

33Listen to instruction and become wise, and do not neglect it.

34Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching at my doors day by day, keeping watch at the posts of my doorways.

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

36But the one who sins against me wrongs his own soul; all who hate me love death.