Proverbs 8 / 31
- 1Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?
- 2On the heights along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
- 3beside 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.
- 5You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, gain understanding.
- 6Listen, for I have worthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right.
- 7My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness.
- 8All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse.
- 9To the discerning all of them are right; they are faultless to those who have knowledge.
- 10Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold,
- 11for 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.
- 13To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
- 14Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have understanding and power.
- 15By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just;
- 16by me princes govern, and all nobles who rule on earth.
- 17I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.
- 18With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.
- 19My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver.
- 20I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
- 21bestowing 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;
- 23I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began.
- 24When there were no oceans, I was given birth, when there were no springs abounding with water;
- 25before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth,
- 26before he made the earth or its fields or any of the dust of the world.
- 27I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,
- 28when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,
- 29when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.
- 30Then I was the craftsman at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence,
- 31rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind.
- 32"Now then, my sons, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.
- 33Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.
- 34Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.
- 35For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD .
- 36But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death."