Proverbs 8:1-30 ▼

1 Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding give forth her voice?

2 On the top of high places by the way, at the cross-paths she taketh her stand.

3 Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud.

4 Unto you, men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of man:

5 O ye simple, understand prudence; and ye foolish, understand sense.

6 Hear, for I will speak excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

7 For my palate shall meditate truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing tortuous or perverse in them.

9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold:

11 for wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things that may be desired are not equal to it.

12 I wisdom dwell [with] prudence, and find the knowledge [which cometh] of reflection.

13 The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil; pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth do I hate.

14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am intelligence; I have strength.

15 By me kings reign, and rulers make just decrees;

16 by me princes rule, and nobles, all the judges of the earth.

17 I love those that love me; and they that seek me early shall find me.

18 Riches and honour are with me; durable wealth and righteousness.

19 My fruit is better than fine gold, yea, than pure gold; and my revenue than choice silver.

20 I walk in the path of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:

21 that I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasuries.

22 Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

23 I was set up from eternity, from the beginning, before the earth was.

24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth, when there were no fountains abounding with water.

25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth;

26 while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.

27 When he prepared the heavens I was there; when he ordained the circle upon the face of the deep;

28 when he established the skies above, when the fountains of the deep became strong;

29 when he imposed on the sea his decree that the waters should not pass his commandment, when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

30 then I was by him [his] nursling, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;