77 lines
3.0 KiB
Markdown
77 lines
3.0 KiB
Markdown
# 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.” |