# Proverbs 8 (New King James Version)
The Excellence of Wisdom

##### Chapter 8
###### 1 Does not wisdom cry out,  
And understanding lift up her voice?  

###### 2 She takes her stand on the top of the high hill,  
Beside the way, where the paths meet.  

###### 3 She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city,  
At the entrance of the doors:  

###### 4 "To you, O men, I call,  
And my voice _is_ to the sons of men.  

###### 5 O you simple ones, understand prudence,  
And you fools, be of an understanding heart.  

###### 6 Listen, for I will speak of excellent things,  
And from the opening of my lips _will come_ right things;  

###### 7 For my mouth will speak truth;  
Wickedness _is_ an abomination to my lips.  

###### 8 All the words of my mouth _are_ with righteousness;  
Nothing crooked or perverse _is_ in them.  

###### 9 They _are_ all plain to him who understands,  
And right to those who find knowledge.  

###### 10 Receive my instruction, and not silver,  
And knowledge rather than choice gold;  

###### 11 For wisdom _is_ better than rubies,  
And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.

###### 12 "I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,  
And find out knowledge _and_ discretion.  

###### 13 The fear of the Lord _is_ to hate evil;  
Pride and arrogance and the evil way  
And the perverse mouth I hate.  

###### 14 Counsel _is_ mine, and sound wisdom;  
I _am_ understanding, I have strength.  

###### 15 By me kings reign,  
And rulers decree justice.  

###### 16 By me princes rule, and nobles,  
All the judges of the earth.  

###### 17 I love those who love me,  
And those who seek me diligently will find me.  

###### 18 Riches and honor _are_ with me,  
Enduring riches and righteousness.  

###### 19 My fruit _is_ better than gold, yes, than fine gold,  
And my revenue than choice silver.  

###### 20 I traverse the way of righteousness,  
In the midst of the paths of justice,  

###### 21 That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth,  
That I may fill their treasuries.

###### 22 "The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way,  
Before His works of old.  

###### 23 I have been established from everlasting,  
From the beginning, before there was ever an earth.  

###### 24 When _there were_ no depths I was brought forth,  
When _there were_ no fountains abounding with water.  

###### 25 Before the mountains were settled,  
Before the hills, I was brought forth;  

###### 26 While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields,  
Or the primal dust of the world.  

###### 27 When He prepared the heavens, I _was_ there,  
When He drew a circle on the face of the deep,  

###### 28 When He established the clouds above,  
When He strengthened the fountains of the deep,  

###### 29 When He assigned to the sea its limit,  
So that the waters would not transgress His command,  
When He marked out the foundations of the earth,  

###### 30 Then I was beside Him _as_ a master craftsman;  
And I was daily _His_ delight,  
Rejoicing always before Him,  

###### 31 Rejoicing in His inhabited world,  
And my delight _was_ with the sons of men.

###### 32 "Now therefore, listen to me, _my_ children,  
For blessed _are those who_ keep my ways.  

###### 33 Hear instruction and be wise,  
And do not disdain _it._  

###### 34 Blessed is the man who listens to me,  
Watching daily at my gates,  
Waiting at the posts of my doors.  

###### 35 For whoever finds me finds life,  
And obtains favor from the Lord;  

###### 36 But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul;  
All those who hate me love death."