Proverbs 8 — American Standard Version

Doth not wisdom cry, And understanding put forth her voice?● On the top of high places by the way, Where the paths meet, she standeth;● Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, At the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud:● Unto you, O men, I call; And my voice is to the sons of men.● O ye simple, understand prudence; And, ye fools, be of an understanding heart.● Hear, for I will speak excellent things; And the opening of my lips shall be right things.● For my mouth shall utter truth; And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.● All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.● They are all plain to him that understandeth, And right to them that find knowledge.● Receive my instruction, and not silver; And knowledge rather than choice gold.● For wisdom is better than rubies; And all the things that may be desired are not to be compared unto it.● I wisdom have made prudence my dwelling, And find out knowledge `and' discretion.● The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil: Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, And the perverse mouth, do I hate.● Counsel is mine, and sound knowledge: I am understanding; I have might.● By me kings reign, And princes decree justice.● By me princes rule, And nobles, `even' all the judges of the earth.● I love them that love me; And those that seek me diligently shall find me.● Riches and honor are with me; `Yea', durable wealth and righteousness.● My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; And my revenue than choice silver.● I walk in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice;● That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, And that I may fill their treasuries.● Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, Before his works of old.● I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, Before the earth was.● When there were no depths, I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water.● Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills was I brought forth;● While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, Nor the beginning of the dust of the world.● When he established the heavens, I was there: When he set a circle upon the face of the deep,● When he made firm the skies above, When the fountains of the deep became strong,● 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;● Then I was by him, `as' a master workman; And I was daily `his' delight, Rejoicing always before him,● Rejoicing in his habitable earth; And my delight was with the sons of men.● Now therefore, `my' sons, hearken unto me; For blessed are they that keep my ways.● Hear instruction, and be wise, And refuse it not.● Blessed is the man that heareth me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors.● For whoso findeth me findeth life, And shall obtain favor of Jehovah.● But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: All they that hate me love death.●