8:1 Does not wisdom call out?
Does not understanding raise her voice?
8:2 At the top1 of the elevated places along the way,
at the juncture2 of the paths she takes her stand;
8:3 beside the gates opening into3 the city,
at the entrance of the doorways she cries out:4
8:4 “To you, O people,5 I call out,
and my voice calls6 to all mankind.7
8:5 You who are naive, discern8 wisdom!
And you fools, understand discernment!9
8:6 Listen, for I will speak excellent things,10
and my lips will utter11 what is right.
8:7 For my mouth12 speaks truth,13
and my lips14 hate wickedness.15
8:8 All the words of my mouth are righteous;16
there is nothing in them twisted17 or crooked.
8:9 All of them are clear18 to the discerning
and upright to those who find knowledge.
8:10 Receive my instruction19 rather than20 silver,
and knowledge rather than choice gold.
8:11 For wisdom is better than rubies,
and desirable things cannot be compared21 to her.
8:12 “I, wisdom, live with prudence,22
and I find23 knowledge and discretion.
8:13 The fear of the Lord is to hate24 evil;
I hate arrogant pride25 and the evil way
and perverse utterances.26
8:14 Counsel and sound wisdom belong to me;27
I possess understanding and might.
8:15 Kings reign by means of me,
and potentates28 decree29 righteousness;
8:16 by me princes rule,
as well as nobles and30 all righteous judges.31
8:17 I love32 those who love me,
and those who seek me find me.
8:18 Riches and honor are with me,
long-lasting wealth and righteousness.
8:19 My fruit is better than pure gold,33
and what I produce34 is better than choice silver.
8:20 I walk in the path of righteousness,
in the midst of the pathway of justice,
8:21 that I may cause35 those who love me to inherit righteousness,
and fill36 their treasuries.37
8:22 The Lord created38 me as the beginning39 of his way,40
before his works of old.
8:23 From eternity I was appointed,41
from the beginning, from before the world existed.42
8:24 When there were no deep oceans43 I was given birth,44
when there were no springs abounding45 with water;
8:25 before the mountains were settled,
before the hills, I was brought forth,
8:26 before he made the earth and its fields,46
or the beginning47 of the dust of the world.
8:27 When he established the heavens, I was there;
when he marked out the horizon48 over the face of the deep,
8:28 when he established the clouds above,
when the fountains of the deep grew strong,49
8:29 when he gave the sea his decree
that the waters should not pass over his command,50
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
8:30 then I was51 beside him as a master craftsman,52
and I was his delight53 day by day,
rejoicing before him at all times,
8:31 rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth,54
and delighting55 in the human beings.56
8:32 “So now, children, listen to me;
blessed are those who keep my ways.
8:33 Listen to my instruction57 so that you may be wise,58
and do not neglect it.
8:34 Blessed is the one59 who listens to me,
watching60 at my doors day by day,
waiting61 at the posts of my doorway.
8:35 For the one who finds me finds62 life
and receives63 favor from the Lord.
8:36 But the one who does not find me64 brings harm65 to himself;66
all who hate me67 love death.”
The Consequences of Accepting Wisdom or Folly68