Proverbs 8
1 Thou shalt proclaim wisdom, that
understanding may be obedient to thee.
2 For she is on lofty eminences, and
stands in the midst of the ways. 3 For
she sits by the gates of princes, and sings in the entrances,
saying,
4 You, O men, I exhort; and utter my
voice to the sons of men. 5 O ye
simple,
aFor the use of ἄκατος and πανοῦργος in this book, see Appendix.understand subtlety, and ye that are untaught, imbibe knowledge.
6 Hearken to me; for I will speak
solemn truths; and will produce right
sayings from my lips.
7 For my throat shall meditate truth;
and false lips are an abomination before me.
8 All the words of my mouth are in
righteousness; there is nothing in them wrong or perverse.
9 They are all evident to those that
understand, and right to those that find knowledge.
10 Receive instruction, and not
silver; and knowledge rather than tried gold.
11 For wisdom is better than precious
stones; and no valuable substance is of equal worth with it.
12 I wisdom have dwelt
with counsel and knowledge, and I have called upon
understanding. 13 The fear of the
Lord hates unrighteousness, and insolence, and pride, and the ways of wicked
men; and I hate the perverse ways of bad men.
14 Counsel and safety are mine:
prudence is mine, and strength is mine.
15 By me kings reign, and princes
decree justice. 16 By me nobles
become great, and monarchs by me rule over the earth.
17 I love those that love me; and
they that seek me shall find me.
18 Wealth and glory belong to me;
yea, abundant possessions and righteousness.
19 It is better to have my fruit than
to have gold and precious stones; and my produce is
better than choice silver. 20 I walk
in ways of righteousness, and am conversant with the
paths of judgment; 21 that I may
divide substance to them that love me, and may fill their treasures with good
things. 21a If I declare to you the
things that daily happen, I will remember also to
recount the things of old.
22 The Lord made me the beginning of
his ways for his works. 23 He
established me
bGr. before the age.before time was in the beginning, before he made the
earth: 24 even before he made the
depths; before the fountains of water came forth:
25 before the mountains were settled,
and before all hills, he begets me.
26 The Lord made countries and
uninhabited tracts, and the highest inhabited parts
of the world. 27 When he prepared the
heaven, I was present with him; and when he
cOr, marked out.prepared his throne upon the winds:
28 and when he strengthened the
clouds above; and when he secured the fountains of the earth:
29 dSee Appendix.and when he strengthened the foundations of the earth:
30 I was by him,
eOr, arranging all things.suiting myself to him, I was that wherein he took
delight; and daily I rejoiced in his presence continually.
31 For he rejoiced when he had
completed the world, and rejoiced among the children of men.
32 Now then,
my son, hear me: blessed is the man who shall hearken
to me, and the mortal who shall keep my ways;fappendix has Alexandrine text as: “And blessed are they that keep my
ways.”
34 watching daily at my doors,
waiting at the posts of my entrances.
35 For my outgoings are the outgoings
of life, and in them is prepared favour from the
Lord. 36 But they that sin against me
act wickedly against their own souls: and they that hate me love death.