The Proverbs

8:1 Doth not wisdom cry,

 And understanding put forth her voice?

 ^8:2On the top of high places by the way,

 Where the paths meet, she standeth;

 ^8:3Beside the gates, at the entry of the city,

 At the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud:

 ^8:4Unto you, O men, I call;

 And my voice is to the sons of men.

 ^8:5O ye simple, understand prudence;

 And, ye fools, be of an understanding heart.

 ^8:6Hear, for I will speak excellent things;

 And the opening of my lips shall be right things.

 ^8:7For my mouth shall utter truth;

 And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

 ^8:8All the words of my mouth are in righteousness;

 There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.

 ^8:9They are all plain to him that understandeth,

 And right to them that find knowledge.

 ^8:10Receive my instruction, and not silver;

 And knowledge rather than choice gold.

 ^8:11For wisdom is better than rubies;

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

 ^8:12I wisdom have made prudence my dwelling,

 And find out knowledge and discretion.

 ^8:13The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil:

 Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way,

 And the perverse mouth, do I hate.

 ^8:14Counsel is mine, and sound knowledge:

 I am understanding; I have might.

 ^8:15By me kings reign,

 And princes decree justice.

 ^8:16By me princes rule,

 And nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

 ^8:17I love them that love me;

 And those that seek me diligently shall find me.

 ^8:18Riches and honor are with me;

 Yea, durable wealth and righteousness.

 ^8:19My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold;

 And my revenue than choice silver.

 ^8:20I walk in the way of righteousness,

 In the midst of the paths of justice;

 ^8:21That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance,

 And that I may fill their treasuries.
 
 

 ^8:22Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way,

 Before his works of old.

 ^8:23I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning,

 Before the earth was.

 ^8:24When there were no depths, I was brought forth,

 When there were no fountains abounding with water.

 ^8:25Before the mountains were settled,

 Before the hills was I brought forth;

 ^8:26While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields,

 Nor the beginning of the dust of the world.

 ^8:27When he established the heavens, I was there:

 When he set a circle upon the face of the deep,

 ^8:28When he made firm the skies above,

 When the fountains of the deep became strong,

 ^8:29When he gave to the sea its bound,

 That the waters should not transgress his commandment,

 When he marked out the foundations of the earth;

 ^8:30Then I was by him, as a master workman;

 And I was daily his delight,

 Rejoicing always before him,

 ^8:31Rejoicing in his habitable earth;

 And my delight was with the sons of men.
 
 

 ^8:32Now therefore, my sons, hearken unto me;

 For blessed are they that keep my ways.

 ^8:33Hear instruction, and be wise,

 And refuse it not.

 ^8:34Blessed is the man that heareth me,

 Watching daily at my gates,

 Waiting at the posts of my doors.

 ^8:35For whoso findeth me findeth life,

 And shall obtain favor of Jehovah.

 ^8:36But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul:

 All they that hate me love death.