JPS - Proverbs - 8

8:1  Doth not wisdom call, and understanding put forth her voice?

8:2  In the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she standeth;

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

8:4  'Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.

8:5  O ye thoughtless, understand prudence, and, ye fools, be ye 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 perverse or crooked in them.

8:9  They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that 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 things desirable are not to be compared unto her.

8:12  I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of devices.

8:13  The fear of HaShem is to hate evil; pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

8:14  Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine.

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

8:16  By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

8:17  I love them that love me, and those that seek me earnestly shall find me.

8:18  Riches and honour are with me; yea, enduring riches and righteousness.

8:19  My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my produce 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 that love me to inherit substance, and that I may fill their treasuries.

8:22  HaShem made me as the beginning of His way, the first of His works of old.

8:23  I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever 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 was I 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 showed their might,

8:29  When He gave to the sea His decree, that the waters should not transgress His commandment, when He appointed the foundations of the earth;

8:30  Then I was by Him, as a nursling; and I was daily all delight, playing always before Him,

8:31  Playing in His habitable earth, and my delights are with the sons of men.

8:32  Now therefore, ye children, hearken unto me; for happy are they that keep my ways.

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

8:34  Happy is the man that hearkeneth to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

8:35  For whoso findeth me findeth life, and obtaineth favour of HaShem.

8:36  But he that misseth me wrongeth his own soul; all they that hate me love death.'