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. |