Proverbs

8:1		Is not wisdom crying out, and the voice of knowledge sounding?
8:2		At the top of the highways, at the meeting of the roads, she takes her place;
8:3		Where the roads go into the town her cry goes out, at the doorways her voice is loud:
8:4		I am crying out to you, O men; my voice comes to the sons of men.
8:5		Become expert in reason, O you simple ones; you foolish ones, take training to heart.
8:6		Give ear, for my words are true, and my lips are open to give out what is upright.
8:7		For good faith goes out of my mouth, and false lips are disgusting to me.
8:8		All the words of my mouth are righteousness; there is nothing false or twisted in them.
8:9		They are all true to him whose mind is awake, and straightforward to those who get knowledge.
8:10		Take my teaching, and not silver; get knowledge in place of the best gold.
8:11		For wisdom is better than jewels, and all things which may be desired are nothing in comparison with her.
8:12		I, wisdom, have made wise behaviour my near relation; I am seen to be the special friend of wise purposes.
8:13		The fear of the Lord is seen in hating evil: pride, a high opinion of oneself, the evil way, and the false tongue, are unpleasing to me.
8:14		Wise design and good sense are mine; reason and strength are mine.
8:15		Through me kings have their power, and rulers give right decisions.
8:16		Through me chiefs have authority, and the noble ones are judging in righteousness.
8:17		Those who have given me their love are loved by me, and those who make search for me with care will get me.
8:18		Wealth and honour are in my hands, even wealth without equal and righteousness.
8:19		My fruit is better than gold, even than the best gold; and my increase is more to be desired than silver.
8:20		I go in the road of righteousness, in the way of right judging:
8:21		So that I may give my lovers wealth for their heritage, making their store-houses full.
8:22		The Lord made me as the start of his way, the first of his works in the past.
8:23		From eternal days I was given my place, from the birth of time, before the earth was.
8:24		When there was no deep I was given birth, when there were no fountains flowing with water.
8:25		Before the mountains were put in their places, before the hills was my birth:
8:26		When he had not made the earth or the fields or the dust of the world.
8:27		When he made ready the heavens I was there: when he put an arch over the face of the deep:
8:28		When he made strong the skies overhead: when the fountains of the deep were fixed:
8:29		When he put a limit to the sea, so that the waters might not go against his word: when he put in position the bases of the earth:
8:30		Then I was by his side, as a master workman: and I was his delight from day to day, playing before him at all times;
8:31		Playing in his earth; and my delight was with the sons of men.
8:32		Give ear to me then, my sons: for happy are those who keep my ways.
8:33		Take my teaching and be wise; do not let it go.
8:34		Happy is the man who gives ear to me, watching at my doors day by day, keeping his place by the pillars of my house.
8:35		For whoever gets me gets life, and grace from the Lord will come to him.
8:36		But he who does evil to me, does wrong to his soul: all my haters are in love with death.