The Appeal of Wisdom58

8:1 Does not wisdom call out?

Does not understanding raise her voice?

8:2 At the top1 of the elevated places along the way,

at the intersection2 of the paths she takes her stand;

8:3 beside the gates opening into3 the city,

at the entrance of the doorways she cries out:4

8:4 “To you, O people,5 I call out,

and my voice calls6 to all mankind.7

8:5 You who are naive, discern8 wisdom!

And you fools, understand discernment!9

8:6 Listen, for I will speak excellent things,10

and my lips will utter11 what is right.

8:7 For my mouth12 speaks truth,13

and my lips14 hate wickedness.15

8:8 All the words of my mouth are righteous;16

there is nothing in them twisted17 or crooked.

8:9 All of them are clear18 to the discerning

and upright to those who find knowledge.

8:10 Receive my instruction19 rather than20 silver,

and knowledge rather than choice gold.

8:11 For wisdom is better than rubies,

and desirable things cannot be compared21 to her.

8:12 “I, wisdom, live with prudence,22

and I find23 knowledge and discretion.

8:13 The fear of the Lord is to hate24 evil;

I hate arrogant pride25 and the evil way

and perverse utterances.26

8:14 Counsel and sound wisdom belong to me;27

I possess understanding and might.

8:15 Kings reign by means of me,

and potentates28 decree29 righteousness;

8:16 by me princes rule,

as well as nobles and30 all righteous judges.31

8:17 I love32 those who love me,

and those who seek me find me.

8:18 Riches and honor are with me,

long-lasting wealth and righteousness.

8:19 My fruit is better than the purest gold,33

and what I produce34 is better than choice silver.

8:20 I walk in the path of righteousness,

in the pathway of justice,

8:21 that I may cause35 those who love me to inherit wealth,

and that I may fill36 their treasuries.37

8:22 The Lord created38 me as the beginning39 of his works,40

before his deeds of long ago.

8:23 From eternity I was appointed,41

from the beginning, from before the world existed.42

8:24 When there were no deep oceans43 I was born,44

when there were no springs overflowing45 with water;

8:25 before the mountains were set in place—

before the hills—I was born,

8:26 before he made the earth and its fields,46

or the beginning47 of the dust of the world.

8:27 When he established the heavens, I was there;

when he marked out the horizon48 over the face of the deep,

8:28 when he established the clouds above,

when the fountains of the deep grew strong,49

8:29 when he gave the sea his decree

that the waters should not pass over his command,50

when he marked out the foundations of the earth,

8:30 then I was51 beside him as a master craftsman,52

and I was his delight53 day by day,

rejoicing before him at all times,

8:31 rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth,54

and delighting55 in its people.56

8:32 “So now, children,57 listen to me;

blessed are those who keep my ways.

8:33 Listen to my instruction58 so that you may be wise,59

and do not neglect it.

8:34 Blessed is the one60 who listens to me,

watching61 at my doors day by day,

waiting62 beside my doorway.63

8:35 For the one who finds me finds64 life

and receives65 favor from the Lord.

8:36 But the one who does not find me66 brings harm67 to himself;68

all who hate me69 love death.”