Proverbs 8

Verse 1. Doth not wisdom cry aloud, and prudence put forth her voice?

Verse 2. Standing in the top of the highest places by the way, in the midst of the paths.

Verse 3. Beside the gates of the city, in the very doors she speaketh, saying:

Verse 4. O ye men, to you I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.

Verse 5. O little ones, understand subtilty, and ye unwise, take notice.

Verse 6. Hear, for I will speak of great things: and my lips shall be opened to preach right things.

Verse 7. My mouth shall meditate truth, and my lips shall hate wickedness.

Verse 8. All my words are just, there is nothing wicked nor perverse in them.

Verse 9. They are right to them that understand, and just to them that find knowledge.

Verse 10. Receive my instruction, and not money: choose knowledge rather than gold.

Verse 11. For wisdom is better than all the most precious things: and whatsoever may be desired cannot be compared to it.

Verse 12. I wisdom dwell in counsel, and am present in learned thoughts.

Verse 13. The fear of the Lord hateth evil: I hate arrogance, and pride, and every wicked way, and a mouth with a double tongue.

Verse 14. Counsel and equity is mine, prudence is mine, strength is mine.

Verse 15. By me kings reign, and lawgivers decree just things,

Verse 16. By me princes rule, and the mighty decree justice.

Verse 17. I love them that love me: and they that in the morning early watch for me, shall find me.

Verse 18. With me are riches and glory, glorious riches and justice.

Verse 19. For my fruit is better than gold and the precious stone, and my blossoms than choice silver.

Verse 20. I walk in the way of justice, in the midst of the paths of judgment,

Verse 21. That I may enrich them that love me, and may fill their treasures.

Verse 22. The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his ways, before he made any thing from the beginning.

Verse 23. I was set up from eternity, and of old before the earth was made.

Verse 24. The depths were not as yet, and I was already conceived. neither had the fountains of waters as yet sprung out:

Verse 25. The mountains with their huge bulk had not as yet been established: before the hills I was brought forth:

Verse 26. He had not yet made the earth, nor the rivers, nor the poles of the world.

Verse 27. When he prepared the heavens, I was present: when with a certain law and compass he enclosed the depths:

Verse 28. When he established the sky above, and poised the fountains of waters:

Verse 29. When he compassed the sea with its bounds, and set a law to the waters that they should not pass their limits: when he balanced the foundations of the earth;

Verse 30. I was with him forming all things: and was delighted every day, playing before him at all times;

Verse 31. Playing in the world: and my delights were to be with the children of men.

Verse 32. Now therefore, ye children, hear me: Blessed are they that keep my ways.

Verse 33. Hear instruction and be wise, and refuse it not.

Verse 34. Blessed is the man that heareth me, and that watcheth daily at my gates, and waiteth at the posts of my doors.

Verse 35. He that shall find me, shall find life, and shall have salvation from the Lord:

Verse 36. But he that shall sin against me, shall hurt his own soul. All that hate me love death.