Proverbs 8:1–21

The Excellence of Wisdom

8Does not ^awisdom cry out, And understanding lift up her voice?

²She takes her stand on the top of the ¹high hill,

Beside the way, where the paths meet.

³She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city,

At the entrance of the doors:

⁴“To you, O men, I call,

And my voice is to the sons of men.

⁵O you ²simple ones, understand prudence,

And you fools, be of an understanding heart.

⁶Listen, for I will speak of ^bexcellent things,

And from the opening of my lips will come right things;

⁷For my mouth will speak truth;

Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

⁸All the words of my mouth are with righteousness;

Nothing crooked or perverse is in them.

⁹They are all plain to him who understands,

And right to those who find knowledge.

¹⁰Receive my instruction, and not silver,

And knowledge rather than choice gold;

^11cFor wisdom is better than rubies,

And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.

¹²“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,

And find out knowledge and discretion.

^13dThe fear of the Lord is to hate evil;

^ePride and arrogance and the evil way

And ^fthe perverse mouth I hate.

¹⁴Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom;

I am understanding, ^gI have strength.

^15hBy me kings reign,

And rulers decree justice.

¹⁶By me princes rule, and nobles,

All the judges of ³the earth.

¹⁷ⁱI love those who love me,

And ^jthose who seek me diligently will find me.

^18kRiches and honor are with me,

Enduring riches and righteousness.

¹⁹My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold,

And my revenue than choice silver.

²⁰I ⁴traverse the way of righteousness,

In the midst of the paths of justice,

²¹That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth,

That I may fill their treasuries.