| Chapter 8 |
1 |
Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding give forth her voice? |
2 |
On the top of high places by the way, at the cross-paths she taketh her stand. |
3 |
Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud. |
4 |
Unto you, men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of man: |
5 |
O ye simple, understand prudence; and ye foolish, understand sense. |
6 |
Hear, for I will speak excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall be right things. |
7 |
For my palate shall meditate truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. |
8 |
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing tortuous or perverse in them. |
9 |
They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge. |
10 |
Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold: |
11 |
for wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things that may be desired are not equal to it. |
12 |
I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find the knowledge which cometh of reflection. |
13 |
The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil; pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth do I hate. |
14 |
Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am intelligence; I have strength. |
15 |
By me kings reign, and rulers make just decrees; |
16 |
by me princes rule, and nobles, all the judges of the earth. |
17 |
I love those that love me; and they that seek me early shall find me. |
18 |
Riches and honour are with me; durable wealth and righteousness. |
19 |
My fruit is better than fine gold, yea, than pure gold; and my revenue than choice silver. |
20 |
I walk in the path of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: |
21 |
that I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasuries. |
22 |
Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. |
23 |
I was set up from eternity, from the beginning, before the earth was. |
24 |
When there were no depths, I was brought forth, when there were no fountains abounding with water. |
25 |
Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth; |
26 |
while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world. |
27 |
When he prepared the heavens I was there; when he ordained the circle upon the face of the deep; |
28 |
when he established the skies above, when the fountains of the deep became strong; |
29 |
when he imposed on the sea his decree that the waters should not pass his commandment, when he appointed the foundations of the earth: |
30 |
then I was by him his nursling, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; |
31 |
rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth, and my delights were with the sons of men. |
32 |
And now, sons, hearken unto me, and blessed are they that keep my ways: |
33 |
hear instruction and be wise, and refuse it not. |
34 |
Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. |
35 |
For whoso findeth me findeth life, and obtaineth favour of Jehovah; |
36 |
but he that sinneth against me doeth violence to his own soul: all they that hate me love death. |