Proverbs 8

1Does wisdom not call out? Does understanding not raise her voice?

2On the heights beside the road, where the paths meet, she takes her stand;

3beside the gates at the entrance to the city, at the doorways, she cries aloud:

4“To you, people, I call; my voice goes out to all humankind.

5You simple ones, learn shrewdness; you fools, get some sense.

6Listen, for I speak of noble things, and what comes from my lips is right.

7For my mouth speaks truth; wickedness is detestable to my lips.

8All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.

9They are all clear to the one who understands and right to those who find knowledge.

10Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold.

11For wisdom is better than jewels, and nothing you could desire can compare with her.

12I, wisdom, live with shrewdness; I find knowledge and discretion.

13The fear of Yahweh is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance, the way of evil and a perverse mouth—I hate them.

14Counsel and sound wisdom are mine; I am understanding; strength is mine.

15By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is right.

16By me princes rule, and nobles, all who judge rightly.

17I love those who love me, and those who search hard for me find me.

18Riches and honor are with me, lasting wealth and righteousness.

19My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield better than choice silver.

20I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,

21giving wealth as an inheritance to those who love me and filling their treasuries.

22Yahweh possessed me at the beginning of his way, before his works, long ago.

23From eternity I was set in place, from the beginning, before the earth began.

24When there were no deep waters I was brought forth, when there were no springs full of water.

25Before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was brought forth,

26before he had made the earth and its fields or the first of the dust of the world.

27When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,

28when he made the skies above firm, when the springs of the deep grew strong,

29when he set a limit for the sea so that the waters would not go beyond his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,

30then I was beside him as a master craftsman, and I was his delight day after day, rejoicing before him at all times,

31rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the human race.

32So now, my sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways.

33Listen to instruction and be wise; do not neglect it.

34Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching at my doors day after day, waiting beside the posts of my doorway.

35For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from Yahweh;

36but whoever misses me harms himself; all who hate me love death.”