ProverbsChapter 8

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¹Doesn't wisdom call out?
Doesn't understanding raise her voice? ²She stands on the high places beside the road.
She stands where the paths meet. ³She stands beside the gates into the city.
At the entrances she cries out: ⁴"I am calling out to you, people.
I am crying out to all of you. ⁵Simple people, learn to be wise.
Fools, gain understanding. ⁶Listen, for I speak about great things.
When I open my lips, I will tell what is right. ⁷For my mouth will speak the truth.
My lips hate what is wicked. ⁸All the words I speak are right.
None of them are crooked or twisted. ⁹They are all clear to anyone who understands.
They are right to those who find knowledge. ¹⁰Take my teaching instead of silver.
Take knowledge instead of pure gold. ¹¹For wisdom is worth more than rubies.
Nothing you want can compare with her. ¹²I, wisdom, live together with good sense.
I find knowledge and careful thinking. ¹³To fear the LORD is to hate evil.
I hate pride and arrogance.
I hate evil ways and twisted speech. ¹⁴Good advice and wise thinking belong to me.
I have understanding and strength. ¹⁵Because of me, kings rule.
Because of me, rulers make fair laws. ¹⁶Because of me, princes rule.
So do all the nobles who govern fairly. ¹⁷I love those who love me.
Those who look for me early will find me. ¹⁸Riches and honor are with me.
So are lasting wealth and what is right. ¹⁹What I give is better than gold, even pure gold.
What I produce is better than the finest silver. ²⁰I walk in the way of what is right.
I walk along the paths of justice. ²¹I give wealth to those who love me.
I fill up their treasure rooms. ²²The LORD made me as the first of his works.
He made me before his acts of long ago. ²³I was set up from long, long ago.
I was there from the beginning, before the earth began. ²⁴I was born when there were no deep waters.
There were no springs full of water then. ²⁵I was born before the mountains were set in place.
I was born before the hills. ²⁶It was before he made the land or the fields.
It was before he made any of the dust of the earth. ²⁷I was there when he set the heavens in place.
I was there when he drew a circle on the face of the deep. ²⁸I was there when he set the clouds up above.
I was there when the springs of the deep poured out. ²⁹He set a limit for the sea,
so the waters would not go past his command.
He marked out the foundations of the earth. ³⁰Then I was the skilled worker at his side.
I was his delight day after day.
I was always full of joy before him. ³¹I was full of joy in his whole world.
I delighted in the human race. ³²So now, my sons, listen to me,
for blessed are those who keep my ways. ³³Listen to my teaching and be wise.
Don't ignore it. ³⁴Blessed is the one who listens to me.
He watches at my doors every day.
He waits beside my doorway. ³⁵For whoever finds me finds life.
He receives favor from the LORD. ³⁶But whoever fails to find me hurts himself.
All who hate me love death."