ACV - Proverbs - 8

8:1  Does not wisdom cry out, and understanding put forth her voice?

8:2  On the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she stands.

8:3  Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors, she cries aloud:

8:4  To you, O men, I call. And my voice is to the sons of men.

8:5  O ye simple, understand prudence, and, ye fools, be of an understanding heart.

8:6  Hear, for I will speak excellent things. And the opening of my lips shall be right things.

8:7  For my mouth shall utter truth. And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

8:8  All the words of my mouth are in righteousness. There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.

8:9  They are all plain to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge.

8:10  Receive my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold.

8:11  For wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

8:12  I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling, and find out knowledge and discretion.

8:13  The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil. Pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the perverse mouth, do I hate.

8:14  Counsel is mine, and sound knowledge. I am understanding, I have might.

8:15  By me kings reign, and rulers decree justice.

8:16  By me rulers rule, and ranking men, even all the judges of the earth.

8:17  I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently shall find me.

8:18  Riches and honor are with me, durable wealth and righteousness.

8:19  My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold, and my revenue than choice silver.

8:20  I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice,

8:21  that I may cause those who love me to inherit substance, and that I may fill their treasuries.

8:22  Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

8:23  I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, before the earth was,

8:24  when there were no depths. I was brought forth when there were no fountains abounding with water,

8:25  before the mountains were settled, before the hills. I was brought forth

8:26  while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.

8:27  When he established the heavens, I was there. When he set a circle upon the face of the deep,

8:28  when he made firm the skies above, when the fountains of the deep became strong,

8:29  when he gave to the sea its bound that the waters should not transgress his commandment, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,

8:30  then I was by him, a master workman. And I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him,

8:31  rejoicing in his habitable earth. And my delight was with the sons of men.

8:32  Now therefore, ye sons, hearken to me. For blessed are those who keep my ways.

8:33  Hear instruction, and be wise, and do not refuse it.

8:34  Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

8:35  For he who finds me finds life, and shall obtain favor of Jehovah.

8:36  But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death.