Proverbs 8
Wisdom’s Appeal
1Doesn’t wisdom call out? Doesn’t understanding make her voice heard?23At the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads, she takes her stand.4
5Beside the gates leading into the city, at the main entrance, she cries out:6
7“People, I call out to you; my cry is to the children of Adam.8
9Learn to be shrewd, you who are inexperienced; develop common sense, you who are foolish.10
11Listen, for I speak of noble things, and what my lips say is right.12
13For my mouth tells the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips.14
15All the words from my mouth are righteous; none of them are deceptive or perverse.16
17All of them are clear to the perceptive, and right to those who discover knowledge.18
19Accept my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.20
21For wisdom is better than jewels, and nothing desirable can equal it.22
23I, wisdom, share a home with shrewdness and have knowledge and discretion.24
25To fear the Lord is to hate evil. I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.26
27I possess good advice and sound wisdom; I have understanding and strength.28
29It is by me that kings reign and rulers enact just law;30
31by me, princes lead, as do nobles and all righteous judges.32
33I love those who love me, and those who search for me find me.34
35With me are riches and honor, lasting wealth and righteousness.36
37My fruit is better than solid gold, and my harvest than pure silver.38
39I walk in the ways of righteousness, along the paths of justice,40
41giving wealth as an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries.42
43“The Lord acquired me at the beginning of his creation, before his works of long ago.44
45I was formed before ancient times, from the beginning, before the earth began.46
47I was born when there were no watery depths and no springs filled with water.48
49Before the mountains were established, prior to the hills, I was given birth —50
51before he made the land, the fields, or the first soil on earth.52
53I was there when he established the heavens, when he laid out the horizon on the surface of the ocean,54
55when he placed the skies above, when the fountains of the ocean gushed out,56
57when he set a limit for the sea so that the waters would not violate his command, when he laid out the foundations of the earth.58
59I was a skilled craftsman beside him. I was his delight every day, always rejoicing before him.60
61I was rejoicing in his inhabited world, delighting in the children of Adam.62
63“And now, sons, listen to me; those who keep my ways are happy.64
65Listen to instruction and be wise; don’t ignore it.66
67Anyone who listens to me is happy, watching at my doors every day, waiting by the posts of my doorway.68
69For the one who finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord,70
71but the one who misses me harms himself; all who hate me love death.”72