Proverbs 8
Wisdom calls out to men, urging them to understand discernment and turn from their unwise ways, promising to speak of great things and foretell what is right. Wisdom declares that her words are just and upright, and that she dwells in counsel and learned thoughts, detesting evil and wicked ways. Through wisdom, kings and rulers decree just conditions, and those who love her will find wealth, glory, and justice. Wisdom was present with God from the beginning, playing a role in the creation of the world, and delights in being with the sons of men, urging them to listen to her discipline and become wise.
Does not wisdom call out, and prudence bestow her voiceAt the summits and the tops of exalted places, standing above the ways, in the midst of the pathsbeside the gates of the city, at the very doors, she speaks, saying"O men, to you I call out, and my voice is to the sons of menO little ones, understand discernment. And you who are unwise, turn your soulsListen, for I will speak about great things, and my lips will be opened, so as to foretell what is rightMy throat shall practice truth, and my lips shall detest the impiousAll my words are just. There is no depravity in them, and no perversityThey are upright to those who understand, and equitable to those who discover knowledgeAccept my discipline, and not money. Choose the doctrine that is greater than goldFor wisdom is better than all that is most precious, and everything that is desirable cannot compare to herI, wisdom, dwell in counsel, and I am inside learned thoughtsThe fear of the Lord hates evil. I detest arrogance, and pride, and every wicked way, and a mouth with a double tongueCounsel is mine, and equity. Prudence is mine. Strength is mineThrough me, kings reign and legislators decree just conditionsThrough me, princes rule and the powerful decree justiceI love those who love me. And those who stand watch for me until morning shall discover meWith me, are wealth and glory, superb riches and justiceFor my fruit is better than gold and precious stones, and my progeny better than choice silverI walk in the way of justice, in the midst of the paths of judgmentso that I may enrich those who love me, and thus complete their treasuresThe Lord possessed me in the beginning of his ways, before he made anything, from the beginningI was ordained from eternity, and out of antiquity, before the earth was formedThe abyss did not yet exist, and I was already conceived; neither had the fountains of waters yet eruptedThe mountains, with their great mass, had not yet been established. Before the hills, I was brought forthStill he had not made the earth, and the rivers, and the poles of the globe of the earthI was already present: when he prepared the heavens; when, with a certain law and a circuit, he fortified the abysswhen he made firm the sky above, and set free the fountains of waterswhen he encompassed the sea within its limits, and laid down a law for the waters, lest they transgress their limits; when he weighed the foundations of the earthI was with him in composing all things. And I was delighted, throughout every day, by playing in his sight at all timesplaying in globe of the earth. And my delight was to be with the sons of menTherefore, sons, hear me now. Blessed are those who preserve my waysListen to discipline, and become wise, and do not be willing to cast it asideBlessed is the man who listens to me, and who stands watch at my gates everyday, and who observes at the posts of my doorsHe who finds me, finds life, and he will draw salvation from the LordBut he who sins against me will wound his own soul. All who hate me love death.
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