Proverbs 8 — ULB

8Verse 1Does not Wisdom call out?
Does not Understanding raise her voice?
^{Verse 2}On the hilltops beside the road,
at the crossroads, Wisdom has taken her stand.
^{Verse 3}Before the gates at the entrance into the city,
at the entrances into the city, she calls out.
^{Verse 4}“It is to you, people, that I call;
my voice is for the sons of mankind.
^{Verse 5}You who are naive, learn wisdom;
and you who are foolish, you must get an understanding mind.
^{Verse 6}Listen, because I will speak of noble things,
and when my lips open I will say upright things.
^{Verse 7}For my mouth speaks what is trustworthy,
and wickedness is disgusting to my lips.
^{Verse 8}All the words of my mouth are just;
in them is nothing twisted or misleading.
^{Verse 9}All of them are straight for the person who understands;
my words are upright for those who find knowledge.
^{Verse 10}Acquire my instruction rather than silver;
acquire knowledge rather than pure gold.
^{Verse 11}For Wisdom is better than jewels;
no treasure is equal to her.
^{Verse 12}I, Wisdom, live with Prudence,
and I possess knowledge and discretion.
^{Verse 13}The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil.
I hate pride and arrogance, the evil way,
and perverted speech. I hate them.
^{Verse 14}I have good advice and sound wisdom;
I am insight; strength belongs to me.
^{Verse 15}By me kings reign, and rulers make laws that are just.
^{Verse 16}By me princes rule,
nobles, and all who govern with justice.
^{Verse 17}I love those who love me,
and those who diligently seek me, find me.
^{Verse 18}With me are riches and honor,
lasting wealth and righteousness.
^{Verse 19}My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold;
my produce is better than pure silver.
^{Verse 20}I walk in the path of righteousness,
in the midst of the paths of justice.
^{Verse 21}As a result, I make those who love me inherit wealth;
I fill up their treasuries.
^{Verse 22}Yahweh created me at the beginning,
the first of his deeds then.
^{Verse 23}In ages long ago I was made—from the first,
from the beginnings of the earth.
^{Verse 24}Before there were oceans, I was given birth—
before there were springs abounding with water.
^{Verse 25}Before the mountains were settled
and before the hills, I was born.
^{Verse 26}I was born before Yahweh had made the earth or the fields,
or even the first dust in the world.
^{Verse 27}I was there when he established the heavens,
when he drew a circle on the surface of the deep.
^{Verse 28}I was there when he established the clouds above and
when the springs in the deep became fixed.
^{Verse 29}I was there when he made his limit for the sea,
so the waters should not spread beyond his command,
and when there was set the limit for the foundations of the dry land.
^{Verse 30}I was beside him, as a skilled craftsman;
I was his delight day after day,
always rejoicing before him.
^{Verse 31}I was rejoicing in his whole world,
and my delight was in the sons of mankind.
^{Verse 32}Now, my sons, listen to me,
for those who keep my ways will be blessed.
^{Verse 33}Listen to my instruction and be wise;
do not neglect it.
^{Verse 34}The one who listens to me will be blessed.
He will be watching every day at my doors,
waiting beside the posts of my doors.
^{Verse 35}For whoever finds me, finds life,
and he will find the favor of Yahweh.
^{Verse 36}But he who fails, harms his own life;
all who hate me love death.”