Proverbs 8

Wisdom’s Call

Does not wisdom call out?^a

Does not understanding raise her voice?

At the highest point along the way,

where the paths meet, she takes her stand;

beside the gate leading into the city,

at the entrance, she cries aloud:^b

“To you, O people, I call out;^c

I raise my voice to all humankind.

You who are simple,^d gain prudence;^e

you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.

Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say;

I open my lips to speak what is right.

My mouth speaks what is true,^f

for my lips detest wickedness.

All the words of my mouth are just;

none of them is crooked or perverse.

To the discerning all of them are right;

they are upright to those who have found knowledge.

Choose my instruction instead of silver,

knowledge rather than choice gold,^g

for wisdom is more precious^h than rubies,

and nothing you desire can compare with her.ⁱ

“I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;

I possess knowledge and discretion.^j

To fear the Lord^k is to hate evil;^l

I hate^m pride and arrogance,

evil behavior and perverse speech.

Counsel and sound judgment are mine;

I have insight, I have power.ⁿ

By me kings reign

and rulers^o issue decrees that are just;

by me princes govern,^p

and nobles—all who rule on earth.

I love those who love me,^q

and those who seek me find me.^r

With me are riches and honor,^s

enduring wealth and prosperity.^t

My fruit is better than fine gold;^u

what I yield surpasses choice silver.^v

I walk in the way of righteousness,^w

along the paths of justice,

bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me

and making their treasuries full.^x

“The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works,

before his deeds of old;

I was formed long ages ago,

at the very beginning, when the world came to be.

When there were no oceans, I was given birth,

when there were no springs abounding with water;^y

before the mountains were settled in place,^z

before the hills, I was given birth,^a

before he made the world or its fields

or any of the dust of the earth.^b

I was there when he set the heavens in place,^c

when he marked out the horizon^d on the face of the deep,

when he established the clouds above^e

and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,^f

when he gave the sea its boundary^g

so the waters would not overstep his command,^h

and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.ⁱ

Then I was constantly at his side.^j

I was filled with delight day after day,

rejoicing always in his presence,

rejoicing in his whole world

and delighting in humankind.^k

“Now then, my children, listen^l to me;

blessed are^m those who keep my ways.ⁿ

Listen to my instruction and be wise;

do not disregard it.

Blessed are those who listen^o to me,

watching daily at my doors,

waiting at my doorway.

For those who find me^p find life^q

and receive favor from the Lord.^r

But those who fail to find me harm themselves;^s

all who hate me love death.”^t