Proverbs - Chapter 8 - A Conservative Version
- Does not wisdom cry out, and understanding put forth her voice?
- On the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she stands.
- Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors, she cries aloud:
- To you, O men, I call. And my voice is to the sons of men.
- O ye simple, understand prudence, and, ye fools, be of an understanding heart.
- Hear, for I will speak excellent things. And the opening of my lips shall be right things.
- For my mouth shall utter truth. And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
- All the words of my mouth are in righteousness. There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
- They are all plain to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge.
- Receive my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold.
- For wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
- I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling, and find out knowledge [and] discretion.
- The fear of LORD is to hate evil. Pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the perverse mouth, do I hate.
- Counsel is mine, and sound knowledge. I am understanding, I have might.
- By me kings reign, and rulers decree justice.
- By me rulers rule, and ranking men, [even] all the judges of the earth.
- I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently shall find me.
- Riches and honor are with me, durable wealth and righteousness.
- My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold, and my revenue than choice silver.
- I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice,
- that I may cause those who love me to inherit substance, and that I may fill their treasuries.
- LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
- I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, before the earth was,
- when there were no depths. I was brought forth when there were no fountains abounding with water,
- before the mountains were settled, before the hills. I was brought forth
- while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
- When he established the heavens, I was there. When he set a circle upon the face of the deep,
- when he made firm the skies above, when the fountains of the deep became strong,
- when he gave to the sea its bound that the waters should not transgress his commandment, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
- then I was by him, a master workman. And I was daily [his] delight, rejoicing always before him,
- rejoicing in his habitable earth. And my delight was with the sons of men.
- Now therefore, ye sons, hearken to me. For blessed are those who keep my ways.
- Hear instruction, and be wise, and do not refuse it.
- Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
- For he who finds me finds life, and shall obtain favor of LORD.
- But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death.