8:1 Thou shalt proclaim wisdom, that
understanding may be obedient to thee.
8:2 For she is on lofty eminences, and stands in the midst of the ways.
8:3 For she sits by the gates of princes, and sings in the entrances,
[saying],
8:4 You, O men, I exhort; and utter my voice to the sons of men.
8:5 O ye simple, understand subtlety, and ye that are untaught, imbibe
knowledge.
8:6 Hearken to me; for I will speak solemn [truths]; and will produce right
[sayings] from my lips.
8:7 For my throat shall meditate truth; and false lips are an abomination
before me.
8:8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing in them
wrong or perverse.
8:9 They are all evident to those that understand, and right to those that
find knowledge.
8:10 Receive instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than tried
gold.
8:11 For wisdom is better than precious stones; and no valuable substance is
of equal worth with it.
8:12 I wisdom have dwelt [with] counsel and knowledge, and I have called
upon understanding.
8:13 The fear of the Lord hates unrighteousness, and insolence, and pride,
and the ways of wicked men; and I hate the perverse ways of bad men.
8:14 Counsel and safety are mine; prudence is mine, and strength is mine.
8:15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
8:16 By me nobles become great, and monarchs by me rule over the earth.
8:17 I love those that love me; and they that seek me shall find [me].
8:18 Wealth and glory belong to me; yea, abundant possessions and
righteousness.
8:19 [It is] better to have my fruit than [to have] gold and precious
stones; and my produce is better than choice silver.
8:20 I walk in ways of righteousness, and [am] conversant with the paths of
judgement;
8:21 that I may divide substance to them that love me, and may fill their
treasures with good things. If I declare to you the things that daily
happen, I will remember [also] to recount the things of old.
8:22 The Lord made me the beginning of his ways for his works.
8:23 He established me before time [was] in the beginning, before he made
the earth:
8:24 even before he made the depths; before the fountains of water came
forth:
8:25 before the mountains were settled, and before all hills, he begets me.
8:26 The Lord made countries and uninhabited [tracks], and the highest
inhabited parts of the world.
8:27 When he prepared the heaven, I was present with him; and when he
prepared his throne upon the winds:
8:28 and when he strengthened the clouds above; and when he secured the
fountains of the earth:
8:29 [see Appendix] and when he strengthened the foundations of the earth:
8:30 I was by him, suiting [myself to him], I was that wherein he took
delight; and daily I rejoiced in his presence continually.
8:31 For he rejoiced when he had completed the world, and rejoiced among the
children of men.
8:32 Now then, [my] son, hear me: blessed is the man who shall hearken to
me, and the mortal who shall keep my ways;
8:33
8:34 watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my entrances.
8:35 For my outgoings are the outgoings of life, and [in them] is prepared
favour from the Lord.
8:36 But they that sin against me act wickedly against their own souls: and
they that hate me love death. |
8:1 Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding
put forth her voice?
8:2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the
paths.
8:3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at
the doors.
8:4 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
8:5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding
heart.
8:6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips
shall be right things.
8:7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my
lips.
8:8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward
or perverse in them.
8:9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that
find knowledge.
8:10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than
choice gold.
8:11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be
desired are not to be compared to it.
8:12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty
inventions.
8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the
evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
8:14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
8:15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
8:16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
8:17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
8:18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
8:19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than
choice silver.
8:20 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of
judgment:
8:21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will
fill their treasures.
8:22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of
old.
8:23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth
was.
8:24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no
fountains abounding with water.
8:25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought
forth:
8:26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest
part of the dust of the world.
8:27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon
the face of the depth:
8:28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the
fountains of the deep:
8:29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his
commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
8:30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his
delight, rejoicing always before him;
8:31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with
the sons of men.
8:32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that
keep my ways.
8:33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
8:34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting
at the posts of my doors.
8:35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
8:36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that
hate me love death. |