Proverbs 8

The Gifts of Wisdom

8Does not wisdom call, and does not understanding raise her voice?H2451H7121H8394H5414H69632On the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand;H5324H7218H4791H1870H1004H54103beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries out:H7442H3027H8179H6310H7176H3996H66074"To you, O people, I call, and my cry is to all that live.H376H7121H6963H1121H1205O simple ones, learn prudence; acquire intelligence, you who lack it.H6612H995H6195H3684H995H38206Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right;H8085H1696H5057H4669H8193H43397for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips.H2441H1897H571H7562H8441H81938All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.H561H6310H6664H6617H61419They are all straight to one who understands and right to those who find knowledge.H5228H995H3477H4672H184710Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold;H3947H4148H3701H1847H977H274211for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.H2451H2896H6443H2656H773712I, wisdom, live with prudence, and I attain knowledge and discretion.H2451H7931H6195H4672H1847H420913The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.H3374H3068H8130H7451H1344H1347H7451H1870H8419H6310H813014I have good advice and sound wisdom; I have insight, I have strength.H6098H8454H998H136915By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just;H4428H4427H7336H2710H666416by me rulers rule, and nobles, all who govern rightly.H8269H8323H5081H8199H77617I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.H157H157H7836H467218Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and prosperity.H6239H3519H6276H1952H666619My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver.H6529H2896H2742H6337H8393H977H370120I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,H1980H734H6666H8432H5410H494121endowing with wealth those who love me, and filling their treasuries.H157H5157H3426H4390H214

Wisdom’s Part in Creation

22The LORD created me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of long ago.H3068H7069H7225H1870H6924H465923Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.H5258H5769H7218H6924H77624When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water.H8415H2342H4599H3513H432525Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth—H2022H2883H6440H1389H234226when he had not yet made earth and fields, or the world's first bits of soil.H6213H776H2351H7218H6083H839827When he established the heavens, I was there, when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,H3559H8064H2710H2329H6440H841528when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep,H553H7834H4605H5810H5869H841529when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,H7760H3220H2706H4325H5674H6310H2710H4144H77630then I was beside him, like a master worker; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always,H681H525H3117H3117H8191H7832H6256H644031rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the human race.H7832H8398H776H8191H1121H12032And now, my children, listen to me: happy are those who keep my ways.H8085H1121H835H8104H187033Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.H8085H4148H2449H654434Happy is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.H835H120H8085H8245H3117H3117H1817H8104H4201H660735For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD;H4672H4672H4672H2416H6329H7522H306836but those who miss me injure themselves; all who hate me love death."H2398H2554H5315H8130H157H4194