Proverbs - Chapter 8 | English Standard Version

  • 1. Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice?
  • 2. On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand;
  • 3. beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:
  • 4. "To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man.
  • 5. O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense.
  • 6. Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right,
  • 7. for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
  • 8. All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.
  • 9. They are all straight to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge.
  • 10. Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold,
  • 11. for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.
  • 12. "I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.
  • 13. The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.
  • 14. I have counsel and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have strength.
  • 15. By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just;
  • 16. by me princes rule, and nobles, all who govern justly.
  • 17. I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.
  • 18. Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness.
  • 19. My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver.
  • 20. I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice,
  • 21. granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries.
  • 22. "The LORD possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old.
  • 23. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
  • 24. When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water.
  • 25. Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth,
  • 26. before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world.
  • 27. When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
  • 28. when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep,
  • 29. when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
  • 30. then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always,
  • 31. rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man.
  • 32. "And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways.
  • 33. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.
  • 34. Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.
  • 35. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD,
  • 36. but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death."
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