Proverbs 8:1-28 ▼

1 Does wisdom not call? And understanding give forth her voice?

2 At the head of high places by the way, || She has stood between the paths,

3 At the side of the gates, at the mouth of the city, || The entrance of the openings, she cries aloud,

4 “To you, O men, I call, || And my voice [is] to the sons of men.

5 Understand, you simple ones, prudence, || And you fools, understand the heart,

6 Listen, for I speak noble things, || And the opening of my lips [is] uprightness.

7 For my mouth utters truth, || And wickedness [is] an abomination to my lips.

8 All the sayings of my mouth [are] in righteousness, || Nothing in them is contrary and perverse.

9 All of them [are] plain to the intelligent, || And upright to those finding knowledge.

10 Receive my instruction, and not silver, || And knowledge rather than choice gold.

11 For wisdom [is] better than rubies, || Indeed, all delights are not comparable with it.

12 I, wisdom, have dwelt with prudence, || And I find out a knowledge of purposes.

13 The fear of YHWH [is] to hate evil; Pride, and arrogance, and an evil way, || And a contrary mouth, I have hated.

14 Counsel and substance [are] mine, || I [am] understanding, I have might.

15 By me kings reign, and princes decree righteousness,

16 By me chiefs rule, and nobles, || All judges of earth.

17 I love those loving me, || And those seeking me earnestly find me.

18 Wealth and honor [are] with me, || Lasting substance and righteousness.

19 My fruit [is] better than gold, even fine gold, || And my increase than choice silver.

20 I cause to walk in a path of righteousness, || In midst of paths of judgment,

21 To cause my lovers to inherit substance, || Indeed, I fill their treasures.

22 YHWH possessed me—the beginning of His way, || Before His works since then.

23 I was anointed from the age, from the first, || From former states of the earth.

24 In there being no depths, I was brought forth, || In there being no fountains heavy [with] waters,

25 Before mountains were sunk, || Before heights, I was brought forth.

26 While He had not made the earth, and out-places, || And the top of the dusts of the world.

27 In His preparing the heavens I [am] there, || In His decreeing a circle on the face of the deep,

28 In His strengthening clouds above, || In His making strong fountains of the deep,