Proverbs 8:1–36

¹ Does not wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice? ² On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads she takes her stand. ³ Beside the gates to the city, at the entrances she cries out: ⁴ “To you, O men, I call out, and my cry is to the sons of men. ⁵ O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding. ⁶ Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right. ⁷ For my mouth will speak the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips. ⁸ All the words of my mouth are righteous; none are crooked or perverse. ⁹ They are all plain to the discerning, and upright to those who find knowledge. ¹⁰ Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold. ¹¹ For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her. ¹² I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. ¹³ To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech. ¹⁴ Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength. ¹⁵ By me kings reign, and rulers enact just laws; ¹⁶ By me princes rule, and all nobles who govern justly. ¹⁷ I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me. ¹⁸ With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and righteousness. ¹⁹ My fruit is better than gold, pure gold, and my harvest surpasses choice silver. ²⁰ I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, ²¹ bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full. ²² The LORD created me as His first course, before His works of old. ²³ From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began. ²⁴ When there were no watery depths, I was brought forth, when no springs were overflowing with water. ²⁵ Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth, ²⁶ before He made the land or fields, or any of the dust of the earth. ²⁷ I was there when He established the heavens, when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep, ²⁸ when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth, ²⁹ when He set a boundary for the sea, so that the waters would not surpass His command, when He marked out the foundations of the earth. ³⁰ Then I was a skilled craftsman at His side, and His delight day by day, rejoicing always in His presence. ³¹ I was rejoicing in His whole world, delighting together in the sons of men. ³² Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways. ³³ Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it. ³⁴ Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway. ³⁵ For whoever finds me finds life…