8:1 Doth not wisdom call, and understanding put forth her voice?
8:2 In the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she standeth;
8:3 Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud:
8:4 'Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.
8:5 O ye thoughtless, understand prudence, and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
8:6 Hear, for I will speak excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
8:7 For my mouth shall utter truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8:8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness, there is nothing perverse or crooked in them.
8:9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
8:10 Receive my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold.
8:11 For wisdom is better than rubies, and all things desirable are not to be compared unto her.
8:12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of devices.
8:13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
8:14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine.
8:15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
8:16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
8:17 I love them that love me, and those that seek me earnestly shall find me.
8:18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, enduring riches and righteousness.
8:19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my produce than choice silver.
8:20 I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice;
8:21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, and that I may fill their treasuries.
8:22 the Lord made me as the beginning of His way, the first of His works of old.
8:23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
8:24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
8:25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth;
8:26 While as yet He had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
8:27 When He established the heavens, I was there; when He set a circle upon the face of the deep,
8:28 When He made firm the skies above, when the fountains of the deep showed their might,
8:29 When He gave to the sea His decree, that the waters should not transgress His commandment, when He appointed the foundations of the earth;
8:30 Then I was by Him, as a nursling; and I was daily all delight, playing always before Him,
8:31 Playing in His habitable earth, and my delights are with the sons of men.
8:32 Now therefore, ye children, hearken unto me; for happy are they that keep my ways.
8:33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
8:34 Happy is the man that hearkeneth to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
8:35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and obtaineth favour of the Lord.
8:36 But he that misseth me wrongeth his own soul; all they that hate me love death.'