8:1  DOES NOT skillful {and} godly Wisdom cry out, and understanding raise her voice [in contrast to the loose woman]?

8:2  On the top of the heights beside the way, where the paths meet, stands Wisdom [skillful and godly];

8:3  At the gates at the entrance of the town, at the coming in at the doors, she cries out:

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

8:5  O you simple {and} thoughtless ones, understand prudence; you [self-confident] fools, be of an understanding heart.

8:6  Hear, for I will speak excellent {and} princely things; and the opening of my lips shall be for right things.

8:7  For my mouth shall utter truth, and wrongdoing is detestable {and} loathsome to my lips.

8:8  All the words of my mouth are righteous (upright and in right standing with God); there is nothing contrary to truth or crooked in them.

8:9  They are all plain to him who understands [and opens his heart], and right to those who find knowledge [and live by it].

8:10  Receive my instruction in preference to [striving for] silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold,

8:11  For skillful {and} godly Wisdom is better than rubies {or} pearls, and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

8:12  I, Wisdom [from God], make prudence my dwelling, and I find out knowledge and discretion.

8:13  The reverent fear {and} worshipful awe of the Lord [includes] the hatred of evil; pride, arrogance, the evil way, and perverted {and} twisted speech I hate.

8:14  I have counsel and sound knowledge, I have understanding, I have might {and} power.

8:15  By me kings reign and rulers decree justice.

8:16  By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges {and} governors of the earth.

8:17  I love those who love me, and those who seek me early {and} diligently shall find me.

8:18  Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness (uprightness in every area and relation, and right standing with God).

8:19  My fruit is better than gold, yes, than refined gold, and my increase than choice silver.

8:20  I [Wisdom] walk in the way of righteousness (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation), in the midst of the paths of justice,

8:21  That I may cause those who love me to inherit [true] riches and that I may fill their treasuries.

8:22  The Lord formed {and} brought me [Wisdom] forth at the beginning of His way, before His acts of old.

8:23  I [Wisdom] was inaugurated {and} ordained from everlasting, from the beginning, before ever the earth existed.

8:24  When there were no deeps, I was brought forth, when there were no fountains laden with water.

8:25  Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth,

8:26  While as yet He had not made the land or the fields or the first of the dust of the earth.

8:27  When He prepared the heavens, I [Wisdom] was there; when He drew a circle upon the face of the deep {and} stretched out the firmament over it,

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

8:29  When He gave to the sea its limit {and} His decree that the waters should not transgress [across the boundaries set by] His command, when He appointed the foundations of the earth--

8:30  Then I [Wisdom] was beside Him as a master {and} director of the work; and I was daily His delight, rejoicing before Him always,

8:31  Rejoicing in His inhabited earth and delighting in the sons of men.

8:32  Now therefore listen to me, O you sons; for blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are those who keep my ways.

8:33  Hear instruction and be wise, and do not refuse {or} neglect it.

8:34  Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

8:35  For whoever finds me [Wisdom] finds life and draws forth {and} obtains favor from the Lord.

8:36  But he who misses me {or} sins against me wrongs {and} injures himself; all who hate me love {and} court death.