Chapter 8
Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
2She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the
paths.
3She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming
in at the doors.
4Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the
sons of man.
5O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an
understanding heart.
6Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the
opening of my lips shall be right things.
7For my mouth shall
speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8All
the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing
froward or perverse in them.
9They are all plain to him that
understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
10Receive my
instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11For
wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired
are not to be compared to it.
12I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find
out knowledge of witty inventions.
13The fear of the Lord is to
hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do
I hate.
14Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am
understanding; I have strength.
15By me kings reign, and princes decree
justice.
16By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of
the earth.
17I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall
find me.
18Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable
riches and righteousness.
19My fruit is better than gold, yea,
than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
20I lead in the way of
righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
21That I may cause
those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
22The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of
old.
23I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the
earth was.
24When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when
there were no fountains abounding with water.
25Before the
mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:
26While as
yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the
dust of the world.
27When he prepared the heavens, I was there:
when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
28When he established
the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
29When
he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his
commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
30Then I was
by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily
his delight, rejoicing always before him;
31Rejoicing in the
habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of
men.
32Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are
they that keep my ways.
33Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse
it not.
34Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at
my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35For whoso findeth me
findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord.
36But he that sinneth
against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
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