Proverbs 8 / 31
- 1
(The Blessings of Wisdom)
Does not wisdom call?
Does not understanding raise her voice?
- 2
On the heights beside the way,
at the crossroads she takes her stand;
- 3
beside the gates in front of the town,
at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:
- 4
"To you, O men, I call,
and my cry is to the children of man.
- 5
O simple ones, learn prudence;
O fools, learn sense.
- 6
Hear, for I will speak noble things,
and from my lips will come what is right,
- 7
for my mouth will utter truth;
wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
- 8
All the words of my mouth are righteous;
there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.
- 9
They are all straight to him who understands,
and right to those who find knowledge.
- 10
Take my instruction instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than choice gold,
- 11
for wisdom is better than jewels,
and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.
- 12
"I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
and I find knowledge and discretion.
- 13
The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.
Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
and perverted speech I hate.
- 14
I have counsel and sound wisdom;
I have insight; I have strength.
- 15
By me kings reign,
and rulers decree what is just;
- 16
by me princes rule,
and nobles, all who govern justly.
- 17
I love those who love me,
and those who seek me diligently find me.
- 18
Riches and honor are with me,
enduring wealth and righteousness.
- 19
My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold,
and my yield than choice silver.
- 20
I walk in the way of righteousness,
in the paths of justice,
- 21
granting an inheritance to those who love me,
and filling their treasuries.
- 22
"The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work,Hebrew way
the first of his acts of old.
- 23
Ages ago I was set up,
at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
- 24
When there were no depths I was brought forth,
when there were no springs abounding with water.
- 25
Before the mountains had been shaped,
before the hills, I was brought forth,
- 26
before he had made the earth with its fields,
or the first of the dust of the world.
- 27
When he established the heavens, I was there;
when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
- 28
when he made firm the skies above,
when he established the fountains of the deep,
- 29
when 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,
- 30
then I was beside him, like a master workman,
and I was daily his delight,
rejoicing before him always,
- 31
rejoicing in his inhabited world
and delighting in the children of man.
- 32
"And now, O sons, listen to me:
blessed are those who keep my ways.
- 33
Hear instruction and be wise,
and do not neglect it.
- 34
Blessed is the one who listens to me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting beside my doors.
- 35
For whoever finds me finds life
and obtains favor from the Lord,
- 36
but he who fails to find me injures himself;
all who hate me love death."