Proverbs 8

Doesn’t wisdom cry out?

On the top of high places by the way,

Beside the gates, at the entry of the city,

“To you men, I call!

You simple, understand prudence.

Hear, for I will speak excellent things.

For my mouth speaks truth.

All the words of my mouth are in righteousness.

They are all plain to him who understands,

Receive my instruction rather than silver;

For wisdom is better than rubies.

“I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling.

The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil.

Counsel and sound knowledge are mine.

By me kings reign,

By me princes rule;

I love those who love me.

With me are riches, honor,

My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold;

I walk in the way of righteousness,

that I may give wealth to those who love me.

“Yahweh possessed me in the beginning of his work,

I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning,

When there were no depths, I was born,

Before the mountains were settled in place,

while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields,

When he established the heavens, I was there;

when he established the clouds above,

when he gave to the sea its boundary,

then I was the craftsman by his side.

rejoicing in his whole world.

“Now therefore, my sons, listen to me,

Hear instruction, and be wise.

Blessed is the man who hears me,

For whoever finds me, finds life,

But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul.