Proverbs 8

1Is not wisdom crying out, and the voice of knowledge sounding?● 2At the top of the highways, at the meeting of the roads, she takes her place;● 3Where the roads go into the town her cry goes out, at the doorways her voice is loud:● 4I am crying out to you, O men; my voice comes to the sons of men.● 5Become expert in reason, O you simple ones; you foolish ones, take training to heart.● 6Give ear, for my words are true, and my lips are open to give out what is upright.● 7For good faith goes out of my mouth, and false lips are disgusting to me.● 8All the words of my mouth are righteousness; there is nothing false or twisted in them.● 9They are all true to him whose mind is awake, and straightforward to those who get knowledge.● 10Take my teaching, and not silver; get knowledge in place of the best gold.● 11For wisdom is better than jewels, and all things which may be desired are nothing in comparison with her.● 12I, wisdom, have made wise behaviour my near relation; I am seen to be the special friend of wise purposes.● 13The fear of the Lord is seen in hating evil: pride, a high opinion of oneself, the evil way, and the false tongue, are unpleasing to me.● 14Wise design and good sense are mine; reason and strength are mine.● 15Through me kings have their power, and rulers give right decisions.● 16Through me chiefs have authority, and the noble ones are judging in righteousness.● 17Those who have given me their love are loved by me, and those who make search for me with care will get me.● 18Wealth and honour are in my hands, even wealth without equal and righteousness.● 19My fruit is better than gold, even than the best gold; and my increase is more to be desired than silver.● 20I go in the road of righteousness, in the way of right judging:● 21So that I may give my lovers wealth for their heritage, making their store-houses full.● 22The Lord made me as the start of his way, the first of his works in the past.● 23From eternal days I was given my place, from the birth of time, before the earth was.● 24When there was no deep I was given birth, when there were no fountains flowing with water.● 25Before the mountains were put in their places, before the hills was my birth:● 26When he had not made the earth or the fields or the dust of the world.● 27When he made ready the heavens I was there: when he put an arch over the face of the deep:● 28When he made strong the skies overhead: when the fountains of the deep were fixed:● 29When he put a limit to the sea, so that the waters might not go against his word: when he put in position the bases of the earth:● 30Then I was by his side, as a master workman: and I was his delight from day to day, playing before him at all times;● 31Playing in his earth; and my delight was with the sons of men.● 32Give ear to me then, my sons: for happy are those who keep my ways.● 33Take my teaching and be wise; do not let it go.● 34Happy is the man who gives ear to me, watching at my doors day by day, keeping his place by the pillars of my house.● 35For whoever gets me gets life, and grace from the Lord will come to him.● 36But he who does evil to me, does wrong to his soul: all my haters are in love with death.●