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

8:2  On the heights along the way,
where the paths meet, she takes her stand;

8:3  beside the gates leading into the city,
at the entrances, she cries aloud:

8:4  "To you, O men, I call out;
I raise my voice to all mankind.

8:5  You who are simple, gain prudence;
you who are foolish, gain understanding.

8:6  Listen, for I have worthy things to say;
I open my lips to speak what is right.

8:7  My mouth speaks what is true,
for my lips detest wickedness.

8:8  All the words of my mouth are just;
none of them is crooked or perverse.

8:9  To the discerning all of them are right;
they are faultless to those who have knowledge.

8:10  Choose my instruction instead of silver,
knowledge rather than choice gold,

8:11  for wisdom is more precious than rubies,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.

8:12  "I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
I possess knowledge and discretion.

8:13  To fear the LORD is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech.

8:14  Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
I have understanding and power.

8:15  By me kings reign
and rulers make laws that are just;

8:16  by me princes govern,
and all nobles who rule on earth.

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

8:18  With me are riches and honor,
enduring wealth and prosperity.

8:19  My fruit is better than fine gold;
what I yield surpasses choice silver.

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

8:21  bestowing wealth on those who love me
and making their treasuries full.

8:22  "The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, ,
before his deeds of old;

8:23  I was appointed from eternity,
from the beginning, before the world began.

8:24  When there were no oceans, I was given birth,
when there were no springs abounding with water;

8:25  before the mountains were settled in place,
before the hills, I was given birth,

8:26  before he made the earth or its fields
or any of the dust of the world.

8:27  I was there when he set the heavens in place,
when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,

8:28  when he established the clouds above
and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,

8:29  when he gave the sea its boundary
so the waters would not overstep his command,
and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.

8:30  Then I was the craftsman at his side.
I was filled with delight day after day,
rejoicing always in his presence,

8:31  rejoicing in his whole world
and delighting in mankind.

8:32  "Now then, my sons, listen to me;
blessed are those who keep my ways.

8:33  Listen to my instruction and be wise;
do not ignore it.

8:34  Blessed is the man who listens to me,
watching daily at my doors,
waiting at my doorway.

8:35  For whoever finds me finds life
and receives favor from the LORD.

8:36  But whoever fails to find me harms himself;
all who hate me love death."