122 lines
2.9 KiB
Markdown
122 lines
2.9 KiB
Markdown
Wisdom's Appeal
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# Chapter 8
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1. Doesn't wisdom call out?
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Doesn't understanding make her voice heard?
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2. At the heights overlooking the road,
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at the crossroads, she takes her stand.
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3. Beside the gates leading into the city,
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at the main entrance, she cries out:
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4. "People, I call out to you;
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my cry is to the children of Adam.
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5. Learn to be shrewd, you who are inexperienced;
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develop common sense, you who are foolish.
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6. Listen, for I speak of noble things,
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and what my lips say is right.
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7. For my mouth tells the truth,
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and wickedness is detestable to my lips.
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8. All the words from my mouth are righteous;
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none of them are deceptive or perverse.
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9. All of them are clear to the perceptive,
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and right to those who discover knowledge.
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10. Accept my instruction instead of silver,
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and knowledge rather than pure gold.
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11. For wisdom is better than jewels,
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and nothing desirable can equal it.
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12. I, wisdom, share a home with shrewdness
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and have knowledge and discretion.
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13. To fear the Lord is to hate evil.
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I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct,
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and perverse speech.
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14. I possess good advice and sound wisdom;
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I have understanding and strength.
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15. It is by me that kings reign
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and rulers enact just law;
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16. by me, princes lead,
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as do nobles and all righteous judges.
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17. I love those who love me,
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and those who search for me find me.
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18. With me are riches and honor,
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lasting wealth and righteousness.
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19. My fruit is better than solid gold,
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and my harvest than pure silver.
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20. I walk in the ways of righteousness,
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along the paths of justice,
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21. giving wealth as an inheritance to those who love me,
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and filling their treasuries.
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22. "The Lord acquired me
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at the beginning of his creation,
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before his works of long ago.
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23. I was formed before ancient times,
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from the beginning, before the earth began.
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24. I was born
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when there were no watery depths
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and no springs filled with water.
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25. Before the mountains were established,
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prior to the hills, I was given birth--
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26. before he made the land, the fields,
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or the first soil on earth.
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27. I was there when he established the heavens,
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when he laid out the horizon on the surface of the ocean,
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28. when he placed the skies above,
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when the fountains of the ocean gushed out,
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29. when he set a limit for the sea
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so that the waters would not violate his command,
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when he laid out the foundations of the earth.
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30. I was a skilled craftsman beside him.
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I was his delight every day,
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always rejoicing before him.
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31. I was rejoicing in his inhabited world,
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delighting in the children of Adam.
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32. "And now, sons, listen to me;
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those who keep my ways are happy.
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33. Listen to instruction and be wise;
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don't ignore it.
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34. Anyone who listens to me is happy,
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watching at my doors every day,
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waiting by the posts of my doorway.
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35. For the one who finds me finds life
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and obtains favor from the Lord,
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36. but the one who misses me harms himself;
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all who hate me love death."
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