118 lines
3.1 KiB
Markdown
118 lines
3.1 KiB
Markdown
The Blessings of Wisdom
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# Chapter 8
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1. Does not wisdom call?
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Does not understanding raise her voice?
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2. On the heights beside the way,
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at the crossroads she takes her stand;
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3. beside the gates in front of the town,
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at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:
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4. "To you, O men, I call,
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and my cry is to the children of man.
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5. O simple ones, learn prudence;
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O fools, learn sense.
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6. Hear, for I will speak noble things,
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and from my lips will come what is right,
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7. for my mouth will utter truth;
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wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
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8. All the words of my mouth are righteous;
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there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.
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9. They are all straight to him who understands,
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and right to those who find knowledge.
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10. Take my instruction instead of silver,
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and knowledge rather than choice gold,
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11. for wisdom is better than jewels,
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and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.
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12. "I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
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and I find knowledge and discretion.
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13. The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil.
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Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
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and perverted speech I hate.
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14. I have counsel and sound wisdom;
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I have insight; I have strength.
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15. By me kings reign,
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and rulers decree what is just;
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16. by me princes rule,
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and nobles, all who govern justly.
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17. I love those who love me,
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and those who seek me diligently find me.
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18. Riches and honor are with me,
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enduring wealth and righteousness.
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19. My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold,
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and my yield than choice silver.
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20. I walk in the way of righteousness,
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in the paths of justice,
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21. granting an inheritance to those who love me,
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and filling their treasuries.
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22. "The LORD possessed me at the beginning of his work,
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the first of his acts of old.
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23. Ages ago I was set up,
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at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
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24. When there were no depths I was brought forth,
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when there were no springs abounding with water.
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25. Before the mountains had been shaped,
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before the hills, I was brought forth,
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26. before he had made the earth with its fields,
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or the first of the dust of the world.
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27. When he established the heavens, I was there;
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when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
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28. when he made firm the skies above,
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when he established the fountains of the deep,
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29. when he assigned to the sea its limit,
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so that the waters might not transgress his command,
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when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
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30. then I was beside him, like a master workman,
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and I was daily his delight,
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rejoicing before him always,
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31. rejoicing in his inhabited world
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and delighting in the children of man.
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32. "And now, O sons, listen to me:
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blessed are those who keep my ways.
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33. Hear instruction and be wise,
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and do not neglect it.
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34. Blessed is the one who listens to me,
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watching daily at my gates,
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waiting beside my doors.
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35. For whoever finds me finds life
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and obtains favor from the LORD,
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36. but he who fails to find me injures himself;
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all who hate me love death."
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