Proverbs 8

²On the top of high places by the way,

³Beside the gates, at the entry of the city,

⁴“I call to you men!

⁵You simple, understand prudence!

⁶Hear, for I will speak excellent things.

⁷For my mouth speaks truth.

⁸All the words of my mouth are in righteousness.

⁹They are all plain to him who understands,

¹⁰Receive my instruction rather than silver,

¹¹For wisdom is better than rubies.

¹²“I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling.

¹³The fear of the LORD is to hate evil.

¹⁴Counsel and sound knowledge are mine.

¹⁵By me kings reign,

¹⁶By me princes rule,

¹⁷I love those who love me.

¹⁸With me are riches, honor,

¹⁹My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold,

²⁰I walk in the way of righteousness,

²¹that I may give wealth to those who love me.

²²“The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his work,

²³I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning,

²⁴When there were no depths, I was born,

²⁵Before the mountains were settled in place,

²⁶while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields,

²⁷When he established the heavens, I was there.

²⁸when he established the clouds above,

²⁹when he gave to the sea its boundary,

³⁰then I was the craftsman by his side.

³¹rejoicing in his whole world.

³²“Now therefore, my sons, listen to me,

³³Hear instruction, and be wise.

³⁴Blessed is the man who hears me,

³⁵For whoever finds me finds life,

³⁶But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul.