8:1 Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?
8:2 At the highest point along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
8:3 beside the gate leading into the city, at the entrance, she cries aloud:
8:4 “To you, O people, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind.
8:5 You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.* / *Septuagint; Hebrew foolish, instruct your minds
8:6 Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right.
8:7 My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness.
8:8 All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse.
8:9 To the discerning all of them are right; they are upright to those who have found knowledge.
8:10 Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold,
8:11 for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.
8:12 “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion.
8:13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
8:14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight, I have power.
8:15 By me kings reign and rulers issue decrees that are just;
8:16 by me princes govern, and nobles - all who rule on earth.* / *Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; other Hebrew manuscripts all righteous rulers
8:17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.
8:18 With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.
8:19 My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver.
8:20 I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
8:21 bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me and making their treasuries full.
8:22 “The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works*,** before his deeds of old; / *Or way; or dominion / **Or The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work; or The Lord brought me forth at the beginning of his work
8:23 I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be.
8:24 When there were no watery depths, I was given birth, when there were no springs overflowing with water;
8:25 before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth,
8:26 before he made the world or its fields or any of the dust of the earth.
8:27 I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,
8:28 when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,
8:29 when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.
8:30 Then I was constantly* at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence, / *Or was the artisan; or was a little child
8:31 rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind.
8:32 “Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.
8:33 Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it.
8:34 Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.
8:35 For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord.
8:36 But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death.”