Proverbs 8
The Blessings of Wisdom
[1] Does not wisdom call?
Does not understanding raise her voice?
[2] On the heights beside the way,
at the crossroads she takes her stand;
[3] beside the gates in front of the town,
at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:
[4] “To you, O men, I call,
and my cry is to the children of man.
[5] O simple ones, learn prudence;
O fools, learn sense.
[6] Hear, for I will speak noble things,
and from my lips will come what is right,
[7] for my mouth will utter truth;
wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
[8] All the words of my mouth are righteous;
there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.
[9] They are all straight to him who understands,
and right to those who find knowledge.
[10] Take my instruction instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than choice gold,
[11] for wisdom is better than jewels,
and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.
[12] “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
and I find knowledge and discretion.
[13] The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil.
Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
and perverted speech I hate.
[14] I have counsel and sound wisdom;
I have insight; I have strength.
[15] By me kings reign,
and rulers decree what is just;
[16] by me princes rule,
and nobles, all who govern justly.
[17] I love those who love me,
and those who seek me diligently find me.
[18] Riches and honor are with me,
enduring wealth and righteousness.
[19] My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold,
and my yield than choice silver.
[20] I walk in the way of righteousness,
in the paths of justice,
[21] granting an inheritance to those who love me,
and filling their treasuries.
[22] “The LORD possessed me at the beginning of his work,
the first of his acts of old.
[23] Ages ago I was set up,
at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
[24] When there were no depths I was brought forth,
when there were no springs abounding with water.
[25] Before the mountains had been shaped,
before the hills, I was brought forth,
[26] before he had made the earth with its fields,
or the first of the dust of the world.
[27] When he established the heavens, I was there;
when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
[28] when he made firm the skies above,
when he established the fountains of the deep,
[29] when he assigned to the sea its limit,
so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
[30] then I was beside him, like a master workman,
and I was daily his delight,
rejoicing before him always,
[31] rejoicing in his inhabited world
and delighting in the children of man.
[32] “And now, O sons, listen to me:
blessed are those who keep my ways.
[33] Hear instruction and be wise,
and do not neglect it.
[34] Blessed is the one who listens to me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting beside my doors.
[35] For whoever finds me finds life
and obtains favor from the LORD,
[36] but he who fails to find me injures himself;
all who hate me love death.” (ESV)
