Proverbs 8 — NETB

8Verse 1Does not wisdom call out?
Does not understanding raise her voice?
^{Verse 2}At the top of the elevated places along the way,
at the intersection of the paths she takes her stand;
^{Verse 3}beside the gates opening into the city,
at the entrance of the doorways she cries out:
^{Verse 4}“To you, O people, I call out,
and my voice calls to all mankind.
^{Verse 5}You who are naive, discern wisdom!
And you fools, understand discernment!
^{Verse 6}Listen, for I will speak excellent things,
and my lips will utter what is right.
^{Verse 7}For my mouth speaks truth,
and my lips hate wickedness.
^{Verse 8}All the words of my mouth are righteous;
there is nothing in them twisted or crooked.
^{Verse 9}All of them are clear to the discerning
and upright to those who find knowledge.
^{Verse 10}Receive my instruction rather than silver,
and knowledge rather than choice gold.
^{Verse 11}For wisdom is better than rubies,
and desirable things cannot be compared to her.
^{Verse 12}“I, wisdom, live with prudence,
and I find knowledge and discretion.
^{Verse 13}The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
I hate arrogant pride and the evil way
and perverse utterances.
^{Verse 14}Counsel and sound wisdom belong to me;
I possess understanding and might.
^{Verse 15}Kings reign by means of me,
and potentates decree righteousness;
^{Verse 16}by me princes rule,
as well as nobles and all righteous judges.
^{Verse 17}I love those who love me,
and those who seek me find me.
^{Verse 18}Riches and honor are with me,
long-lasting wealth and righteousness.
^{Verse 19}My fruit is better than the purest gold,
and what I produce is better than choice silver.
^{Verse 20}I walk in the path of righteousness,
in the pathway of justice,
^{Verse 21}that I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth,
and that I may fill their treasuries.
^{Verse 22}The Lord created me as the beginning of his works,
before his deeds of long ago.
^{Verse 23}From eternity I was appointed,
from the beginning, from before the world existed.
^{Verse 24}When there were no deep oceans I was born,
when there were no springs overflowing with water;
^{Verse 25}before the mountains were set in place –
before the hills – I was born,
^{Verse 26}before he made the earth and its fields,
or the beginning of the dust of the world.
^{Verse 27}When he established the heavens, I was there;
when he marked out the horizon over the face of the deep,
^{Verse 28}when he established the clouds above,
when the fountains of the deep grew strong,
^{Verse 29}when he gave the sea his decree
that the waters should not pass over his command,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
^{Verse 30}then I was beside him as a master craftsman,
and I was his delight day by day,
rejoicing before him at all times,
^{Verse 31}rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth,
and delighting in its people.
^{Verse 32}“So now, children, listen to me;
blessed are those who keep my ways.
^{Verse 33}Listen to my instruction so that you may be wise,
and do not neglect it.
^{Verse 34}Blessed is the one who listens to me,
watching at my doors day by day,
waiting beside my doorway.
^{Verse 35}For the one who finds me finds life
and receives favor from the Lord.
^{Verse 36}But the one who does not find me brings harm to himself;
all who hate me love death.”