NETtext - Proverbs - 8

8:1  Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?

8:2  At the top of the elevated places along the way, at the intersection of the paths she takes her stand;

8:3  beside the gates opening into the city, at the entrance of the doorways she cries out:

8:4  "To you, O people, I call out, and my voice calls to all mankind.

8:5  You who are naive, discern wisdom! And you fools, understand discernment!

8:6  Listen, for I will speak excellent things, and my lips will utter what is right.

8:7  For my mouth speaks truth, and my lips hate wickedness.

8:8  All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing in them twisted or crooked.

8:9  All of them are clear to the discerning and upright to those who find knowledge.

8:10  Receive my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold.

8:11  For wisdom is better than rubies, and desirable things cannot be compared to her.

8:12  "I, wisdom, live with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.

8:13  The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride and the evil way and perverse utterances.

8:14  Counsel and sound wisdom belong to me; I possess understanding and might.

8:15  Kings reign by means of me, and potentates decree righteousness;

8:16  by me princes rule, as well as nobles and all righteous judges.

8:17  I love 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, and what I produce is better than choice silver.

8:20  I walk in the path of righteousness, in the pathway of justice,

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

8:22  The LORD created me as the beginning of his works, before his deeds of long ago.

8:23  From eternity I was appointed, from the beginning, from before the world existed.

8:24  When there were no deep oceans I was born, when there were no springs overflowing 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, or the beginning of the dust of the world.

8:27  When he established the heavens, I was there; when he marked out the horizon over the face of the deep,

8:28  when he established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep grew strong,

8:29  when he gave the sea his decree that the waters should not pass over his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,

8:30  then I was beside him as a master craftsman, and I was his delight day by day, rejoicing before him at all times,

8:31  rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth, and delighting in its people.

8:32  "So now, children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.

8:33  Listen to my instruction so that you may be wise, and do not neglect it.

8:34  Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching at my doors day by day, waiting beside my doorway.

8:35  For the one who finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD.

8:36  But the one who does not find me brings harm to himself; all who hate me love death."