In Praise of Wisdom (PRO 8:1-36)

[8:1] Listen! Wisdom is calling out. Reason is making herself heard.

[8:2] On the hilltops near the road and at the crossroads she stands.

[8:3] At the entrance to the city, beside the gates, she calls:

[8:4] “I appeal to all of you; I call to everyone on earth.

[8:5] Are you immature? Learn to be mature. Are you foolish? Learn to have sense.

[8:6] Listen to my excellent words; all I tell you is right.

[8:7] What I say is the truth; lies are hateful to me.

[8:8] Everything I say is true; nothing is false or misleading.

[8:9] To those with insight, it is all clear; to the well-informed, it is all plain.

[8:10] Choose my instruction instead of silver; choose knowledge rather than the finest gold.

[8:11] “I am Wisdom, I am better than jewels; nothing you want can compare with me.

[8:12] I am Wisdom, and I have insight; I have knowledge and sound judgment.

[8:13] To honor the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil ways and false words.

[8:14] I make plans and carry them out. I have understanding, and I am strong.

[8:15] I help kings to govern and rulers to make good laws.

[8:16] Every ruler on earth governs with my help, officials and nobles alike.

[8:17] I love those who love me; whoever looks for me can find me.

[8:18] I have riches and honor to give, prosperity and success.

[8:19] What you get from me is better than the finest gold, better than the purest silver.

[8:20] I walk the way of righteousness; I follow the paths of justice,

[8:21] giving wealth to those who love me, filling their houses with treasures.

[8:22] “The Lord created me first of all, the first of his works, long ago.

[8:23] I was made in the very beginning, at the first, before the world began.

[8:24] I was born before the oceans, when there were no springs of water.

[8:25] I was born before the mountains, before the hills were set in place,

[8:26] before God made the earth and its fields or even the first handful of soil.

[8:27] I was there when he set the sky in place, when he stretched the horizon across the ocean,

[8:28] when he placed the clouds in the sky, when he opened the springs of the ocean

[8:29] and ordered the waters of the sea to rise no further than he said. I was there when he laid the earth's foundations.

[8:30] I was beside him like an architect, I was his daily source of joy, always happy in his presence—

[8:31] happy with the world and pleased with the human race.

[8:32] “Now, young people, listen to me. Do as I say, and you will be happy.

[8:33] Listen to what you are taught. Be wise; do not neglect it.

[8:34] Those who listen to me will be happy— those who stay at my door every day, waiting at the entrance to my home.

[8:35] Those who find me find life, and the Lord will be pleased with them.

[8:36] Those who do not find me hurt themselves; anyone who hates me loves death.”

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