Proverbs 8

1Is not wisdom calling out? Is not understanding raising her voice?

2She stands at the top of the hills, beside the road, where the paths meet.

3She cries out beside the gates, at the entrance of the city, at the doorways:

4To you, people, I call out; my voice speaks to all humanity.

5You who are simple, learn to be wise. You who are foolish, gain understanding.

6Listen, because I will speak excellent things; when I open my lips, I will say what is right.

7My mouth will speak the truth, and my lips hate wickedness.

8All the words of my mouth are honest; none of them are twisted or dishonest.

9They are all clear to someone who understands, and right to those who find knowledge.

10Choose my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge instead of the finest gold.

11Because wisdom is worth more than rubies, and nothing you could want compares to it.

12I, wisdom, live together with good judgment; I have found knowledge and careful thinking.

13To respect the LORD is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, evil ways, and dishonest talk.

14Good advice and sound wisdom belong to me; I have understanding, I have strength.

15Kings rule by me, and rulers make just laws.

16By me princes govern, and nobles, all who judge fairly on the earth.

17I love those who love me, and those who search for me early will find me.

18Riches and honor are with me, lasting wealth and what is right.

19My fruit is better than gold, better than the finest gold, and what I produce is better than choice silver.

20I walk in the way of what is right, along the paths of justice,

21Giving wealth to those who love me, and filling their treasuries.

22The LORD had me at the very beginning, before the LORD's earliest works, long ago.

23I was appointed from eternity, from the very beginning, before the earth even existed.

24I was born before the oceans, before the springs filled with water.

25Before the mountains were set in place, before the hills, I was born,

26Before the LORD had made the earth or its fields, or the very first dust of the world.

27When the LORD set the heavens in place, I was there. When the LORD drew the horizon on the face of the deep,

28When the LORD set the clouds above, when the LORD made the springs of the deep sea strong,

29When the LORD gave the sea its boundary so that the waters would not go past what the LORD commanded, when the LORD marked out the foundations of the earth,

30I was right there beside the LORD, like a skilled craftsman. I was the LORD's daily delight, always rejoicing in the LORD's presence,

31Rejoicing in the LORD's whole world, delighting in the human race.

32So now, my children, listen to me. Happy are those who keep my ways.

33Listen to instruction and become wise; do not turn away from it.

34Happy is the person who listens to me, watching at my doors every day, waiting beside my doorway.

35Because whoever finds me finds life, and receives favor from the LORD.

36But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.