Proverbs 8 — Douay-Rheims Bible

Doth not wisdom cry aloud, and prudence put forth her voice?● Standing in the top of the highest places by the way, in the midst of the paths,● Beside the gates of the city, in the very doors she speaketh, saying:● O ye men, to you I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.● O little ones understand subtlety, and ye unwise, take notice.● Hear, for I will speak of great things: and my lips shall be opened to preach right things.● My mouth shall meditate truth, and my lips shall hate wickedness.● All my words are just, there is nothing wicked, nor perverse in them.● They are right to them that understand, and just to them that find knowledge.● Receive my instruction, and not money: choose knowledge rather than gold.● For wisdom is better than all the most precious things: and whatsoever may be desired cannot be compared to it.● I, wisdom, dwell in counsel, and am present in learned thoughts.● The fear of the Lord hateth evil; I hate arrogance, and pride, and every wicked way, and a mouth with a double tongue.● Counsel and equity is mine, prudence is mine, strength is mine.● By me kings reign, and lawgivers decree just things.● By me princes rule, and the mighty decree justice.● I love them that love me: and they that in the morning early watch for me, shall find me.● With me are riches and glory, glorious riches and justice.● For my fruit is better than gold and the precious stone, and my blossoms than choice silver.● I walk in the way of justice, in the midst of the paths of judgment,● That I may enrich them that love me, and may fill their treasures.● The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his ways, before he made any thing from the beginning.● I was set up from eternity, and of old, before the earth was made.● The depths were not as yet, and I was already conceived, neither had the fountains of waters as yet sprung out.● The mountains, with their huge bulk, had not as yet been established: before the hills, I was brought forth:● He had not yet made the earth, nor the rivers, nor the poles of the world.● When he prepared the heavens, I was present: when with a certain law, and compass, he enclosed the depths:● When he established the sky above, and poised the fountains of waters:● When he compassed the sea with its bounds, and set a law to the waters that they should not pass their limits: when he balanced the foundations of the earth;● I was with him forming all things: and was delighted every day, playing before him at all times;● Playing in the world: and my delights were to be with the children of men.● Now, therefore, ye children, hear me: blessed are they that keep my ways.● Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.● Blessed is the man that heareth me, and that watcheth daily at my gates, and waiteth at the posts of my doors.● He that shall find me, shall find life, and shall have salvation from the Lord.● But he that shall sin against me shall hurt his own soul. All that hate me love death.●