Proverbs 8:12-36 ▼

12 I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and knowledge of discretion I find out.

13 The fear of YHWH is to hate evil; I hate pride, and arrogance, and the way of evil, and the mouth of perversity.

14 Counsel and sound wisdom are unto me; I am understanding; unto me is strength.

15 By me kings reign, and rulers decree justice.

16 By me princes rule, and nobles—all those judging with righteousness.

17 I love those who love me, and those seeking me earnestly will find me.

18 Riches and honor are with me, surpassing wealth and righteousness.

19 Better is my fruit than gold, even pure gold, and my produce than choice silver.

20 In the way of righteousness I walk, in the midst of the paths of justice,

21 to cause those loving me to inherit substance, and their treasuries I will fill.

22 YHWH acquired me at the beginning of His way, before His works at that time.

23 From everlasting I was poured out, from the head, from before the earth.

24 In being no depths, I was brought forth, in being no springs heavy with waters.

25 Before the mountains were sunk, before the hills, I was brought forth—

26 while He had not made the land, or the outside places, or the first dusts of the world.

27 In His establishing the heavens, I was there; in His inscribing a circle on the face of the deep,

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

29 in His setting for the sea its limit, so that the waters would not cross over His command, in His marking out the foundations of the earth,

30 then I was beside Him as a craftsman, and I was a delight day by day, laughing before His face at every time,

31 laughing in the world of His earth, and delighting together with the sons of man.

32 So now, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.

33 Listen to discipline and be wise, and do not neglect it.

34 Blessed is the man listening to me, watching at my gates day by day, keeping watch at the posts of my doors.

35 For the one finding me has found life, and he brings forth favor from YHWH;

36 but the one sinning against me is wronging his soul; all those hating me love death.”