Proverbs 8:1–21

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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