The Appeal Of Wisdom⁵¹

8:1 Does not wisdom call out?
And does not understanding raise her voice?
8:2 At the top¹ of the elevated places along the way,
at the juncture² of the paths she takes her stand;
8:3 beside the gates at the opening³ to the city,
at the entrance of the doorways she cries out:⁴
8:4 “To you, O people,⁵ I call out;
and my voice calls⁶ to all mankind.⁷
8:5 You who are simple, understand⁸ shrewdness;⁹
and you fools, understand judgment.¹⁰
8:6 Listen, for I will speak excellent things;¹¹
and my lips utter¹² what is right.¹³
8:7 For my mouth¹⁴ speaks truth,¹⁵
and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.¹⁶
8:8 All the words of my mouth are righteous;¹⁷
there is nothing in them twisted¹⁸ or crooked.
8:9 All of them are clear¹⁹ to the discerning
and straight to those who find knowledge.
8:10 Receive my instruction²⁰ and not silver,
and knowledge rather than choice gold.
8:11 For wisdom is better than rubies,
and no desirable things are comparable²¹ with her.
8:12 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence;²²
and I find²³ knowledge and discretion.
8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate²⁴ evil;
arrogant pride²⁵ and the evil way
and perverse utterances²⁶ I hate.
8:14 Mine²⁷ are counsel and sound wisdom
I have understanding and might.
8:15 By me kings reign
and potentates²⁸ decree²⁹ righteousness;
8:16 By me princes rule,
and nobles, all righteous judges.³⁰
8:17 I love³¹ those who love me,
and those who seek me find me.
8:18 Riches and honor are with me,
lasting wealth and righteousness.
8:19 My fruit is better than very fine gold;³²
and what I produce³³ is better than choice silver.
8:20 I walk in the path of righteousness,
in the midst of the pathway of justice.
8:21 that I may cause³⁴ those that love me to inherit righteousness,
and fill³⁵ their treasuries.³⁶
8:22 The LORD created³⁷ me as the beginning³⁸ of His way,³⁹
before His works of old;
8:23 From eternity I was appointed,⁴⁰
from the beginning, from before the world existed.⁴¹
8:24 When there were no deep oceans⁴² I was given birth,⁴³
when there were no springs abounding⁴⁴ with water;
8:25 before the mountains were settled,
before the hills, I was brought forth,
8:26 before He made the earth and its fields,⁴⁵
or the beginning⁴⁶ of the dust of the world.
8:27 When He established the heavens, I was there;
when He marked out the horizon⁴⁷ over the face of the deep,
8:28 when He established the clouds above,
when the fountains of the deep grew strong,⁴⁸
8:29 when He gave the sea His decree
that the waters should not pass over His command,⁴⁹
when He marked out the foundations of the earth,
8:30 then I was⁵⁰ beside Him as a craftsman.⁵¹
and I was His delight⁵² day by day,
rejoicing before Him at all times,
8:31 rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth,⁵³
and delighting⁵⁴ in the human beings.⁵⁵
8:32 So now, children, listen to me;
and blessed⁵⁶ are they that keep my ways.
8:33 Listen to my instruction,⁵⁷ and be wise,
and do not neglect it.
8:34 Blessed is the one⁵⁸ who listens to me,
watching⁵⁹ at my doors day by day,
waiting⁶⁰ at the posts of my doorway.
8:35 For the one who finds me finds⁶¹ life,
and receives⁶² favor from the LORD.
8:36 But the one who does not find me⁶³ brings harm⁶⁴ to himself;⁶⁵
all who hate me⁶⁶ love death.”