8:1
Is not Wisdom calling? Is not Understanding raising her voice?
8:2
On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossways, she takes her stand;
8:3
by the gates, at the entrance to the city, on the access-roads, she cries out,
8:4
'I am calling to you, all people, my words are addressed to all humanity.
8:5
Simpletons, learn how to behave, fools, come to your senses.
8:6
Listen, I have something important to tell you, when I speak, my words are right.
8:7
My mouth proclaims the truth, for evil is abhorrent to my lips.
8:8
All the words from my mouth are upright, nothing false there, nothing crooked,
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everything plain, if you can understand, straight, if you have acquired knowledge.
8:10
Accept my discipline rather than silver, and knowledge of me in preference to finest gold.
8:11
For Wisdom is more precious than jewels, and nothing else is so worthy of desire.
8:12
'I, Wisdom, share house with Discretion, I am mistress of the art of thought.
8:13
(Fear of Yahweh means hatred of evil.) I hate pride and arrogance, wicked behaviour and a lying mouth.
8:14
To me belong good advice and prudence, I am perception: power is mine!
8:15
By me monarchs rule and princes decree what is right;
8:16
by me rulers govern, so do nobles, the lawful authorities.
8:17
I love those who love me; whoever searches eagerly for me finds me.
8:18
With me are riches and honour, lasting wealth and saving justice.
8:19
The fruit I give is better than gold, even the finest, the return I make is better than pure silver.
8:20
I walk in the way of uprightness in the path of justice,
8:21
to endow my friends with my wealth and to fill their treasuries.
8:22
'Yahweh created me, first-fruits of his fashioning, before the oldest of his works.
8:23
From everlasting, I was firmly set, from the beginning, before the earth came into being.
8:24
The deep was not, when I was born, nor were the springs with their abounding waters.
8:25
Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I came to birth;
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before he had made the earth, the countryside, and the first elements of the world.
8:27
When he fixed the heavens firm, I was there, when he drew a circle on the surface of the deep,
8:28
when he thickened the clouds above, when the sources of the deep began to swell,
8:29
when he assigned the sea its boundaries -- and the waters will not encroach on the shore -- when he traced the foundations of the earth,
8:30
I was beside the master craftsman, delighting him day after day, ever at play in his presence,
8:31
at play everywhere on his earth, delighting to be with the children of men.
8:32
'And now, my children, listen to me. Happy are those who keep my ways.
8:33
Listen to instruction and become wise, do not reject it.
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Blessed, whoever listens to me, who day after day keeps watch at my gates to guard my portals.
8:35
For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains the favour of Yahweh;
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but whoever misses me harms himself, all who hate me are in love with death.'
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