Proverbs 8
1AS for thee, thou art to proclaim wisdom; that understanding may attend thee.
2For she is on the lofty summits, and hath taken her stand in the middle of highways.
3For at the gates of the mighty she hath taken a seat, and at the entrance thereof chanteth her song:
4“To you, O men, I call, and utter my voice to the sons of men.
5Ye who are innocent, learn discretion: and ye who are uninstructed, give attention.
6Hearken to me, for I will speak solemn things; and with my lips disclose things which are right.
7For my mouth shall speak truth. Lying lips are indeed abominable in my sight.
8All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; they have nothing crooked—nothing deceitful in them.
9They are all plain to men of understanding, and right to them who find knowledge.
10Receive instruction in preference to silver, and knowledge rather than fine gold.
11For wisdom is better than precious stones: and no costly thing is equal to it in value.
12I, Wisdom, have inhabited counsel and knowledge; and I have made an appeal to understanding.
13“The fear of the Lord hateth injustice and insolence and haughtiness and the ways of the wicked: and I have hated the crooked ways of bad men.
14To me belong counsel and safety. Prudence is mine—mine is fortitude.
15By me kings reign and princes decree justice.
16By me potentates are exalted; and by me sovereigns rule the earth.
17Them who love me, I love: and they who seek me shall find me.
18With me are riches and glory, even great possessions and righteousness.
19My fruit is better than gold and precious stones: and my productions are better than choice silver.
20I walk in the ways of righteousness; and am conversant in the paths of judgment:
21that I may distribute wealth to them who love me; and fill their treasuries with good things.
22“Having told you things which happen daily, I will now remember to reckon up things of old. The Lord created me, the beginning of His ways, for His works.
23Before this age He founded me; in the beginning,
24before He made the earth and before He made the deeps: before the fountains of water issued forth—
25before the mountains were established and before all the hills, He bringeth me forth.
26“The Lord made fields and uninhabited wilds; and the habitable heights of the earth.
27When He furnished the heaven, I was with Him; and when He set apart His own throne on the winds:
28and when He strengthened the clouds above:
29and when He secured the fountains of the earth below—when He set to the sea its bound, and the waters passed not the word of His mouth. And when He made the fountains of the earth strong,
30I was harmonizing with Him. I was the one in whom He delighted; and
31I was daily gladdened by His presence on all occasions—[both] when He finished the world and was pleased therewith, and when He was pleased with the sons of men.”
32Now, therefore, my son, hearken to me.
33Hear Wisdom and be wise, and part not from her [Wisdom (Sophia) again speaks]:
34“Happy is the man who will hearken to me: and the man who will keep my ways; watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35For my ways are the ways of life; and volition is obtained from the Lord.
36But they who sin against me act wickedly against their own souls; and they who hate me love death.”