Proverbs 8

Proverbs 8 (New International Version)

Proverbs 8

Wisdom’s Call

 ¹ Does not wisdom call out?
   Does not understanding raise her voice?
² At the highest point along the way,
   where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
³ beside the gate leading into the city,
   at the entrance, she cries aloud:
⁴ “To you, O people, I call out;
   I raise my voice to all mankind.
⁵ You who are simple, gain prudence;
   you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.^[a]
6 Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say;
   I open my lips to speak what is right.
⁷ My mouth speaks what is true,
   for my lips detest wickedness.
⁸ All the words of my mouth are just;
   none of them is crooked or perverse.
⁹ To the discerning all of them are right;
   they are upright to those who have found knowledge.
¹⁰ Choose my instruction instead of silver,
   knowledge rather than choice gold,
¹¹ for wisdom is more precious than rubies,
   and nothing you desire can compare with her.  ¹² “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
   I possess knowledge and discretion.
¹³ To fear the LORD is to hate evil;
   I hate pride and arrogance,
   evil behavior and perverse speech.
¹⁴ Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
   I have insight, I have power.
¹⁵ By me kings reign
   and rulers issue decrees that are just;
¹⁶ by me princes govern,
   and nobles—all who rule on earth.^[b]
17 I love those who love me,
   and those who seek me find me.
¹⁸ With me are riches and honor,
   enduring wealth and prosperity.
¹⁹ My fruit is better than fine gold;
   what I yield surpasses choice silver.
²⁰ I walk in the way of righteousness,
   along the paths of justice,
²¹ bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me
   and making their treasuries full.
 ²² “The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works,^[c][d]
   before his deeds of old;
²³ I was formed long ages ago,
   at the very beginning, when the world came to be.
²⁴ When there were no watery depths, I was given birth,
   when there were no springs overflowing with water;
²⁵ before the mountains were settled in place,
   before the hills, I was given birth,
²⁶ before he made the world or its fields
   or any of the dust of the earth.
²⁷ I was there when he set the heavens in place,
   when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,
²⁸ when he established the clouds above
   and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,
²⁹ when he gave the sea its boundary
   so the waters would not overstep his command,
and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.
 ³⁰ Then I was constantly^[e] at his side.
I was filled with delight day after day,
   rejoicing always in his presence,
³¹ rejoicing in his whole world
   and delighting in mankind.
 ³² “Now then, my children, listen to me;
   blessed are those who keep my ways.
³³ Listen to my instruction and be wise;
   do not disregard it.
³⁴ Blessed are those who listen to me,
   watching daily at my doors,
   waiting at my doorway.
³⁵ For those who find me find life
   and receive favor from the LORD.
³⁶ But those who fail to find me harm themselves;
   all who hate me love death.”