8:1  Does not wisdom call, does not understanding raise her voice?

8:2  On the heights beside the way, in the paths she takes her stand;

8:3  beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:

8:4  "To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the sons of men.

8:5  O simple ones, learn prudence; O foolish men, pay attention.

8:6  Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right;

8:7  for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

8:8  All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.

8:9  They are all straight to him who understands and right to those who find knowledge.

8:10  Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold;

8:11  for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

8:12  I, wisdom, dwell in prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.

8:13  The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.

8:14  I have counsel and sound wisdom, I have insight, I have strength.

8:15  By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just;

8:16  by me princes rule, and nobles govern the earth.

8:17  I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.

8:18  Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and prosperity.

8:19  My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver.

8:20  I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice,

8:21  endowing with wealth those who love me, and filling their treasuries.

8:22  The LORD created me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old.

8:23  Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.

8:24  When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water.

8:25  Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth;

8:26  before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world.

8:27  When he established the heavens, I was there, when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,

8:28  when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep,

8:29  when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,

8:30  then I was beside him, like a master workman; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always,

8:31  rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the sons of men.

8:32  And now, my sons, listen to me: happy are those who keep my ways.

8:33  Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.

8:34  Happy is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.

8:35  For he who finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD;

8:36  but he who misses me injures himself; all who hate me love death."