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The Book of Proverbs
Chapter 8
The preaching of wisdom. Her excellence.
 1 |
Doth not wisdom cry aloud, and prudence put forth her voice? |
2 |
Standing in the top of the highest places by the way, in the midst of the paths, |
3 |
Beside the gates of the city, in the very doors she speaketh, saying: |
4 |
O ye men, to you I call, and my voice is to the sons of men. |
5 |
O little ones understand subtlety, and ye unwise, take notice. |
6 |
Hear, for I will speak of great things: and my lips shall be opened to preach right things. |
7 |
My mouth shall meditate truth, and my lips shall hate wickedness. |
8 |
All my words are just, there is nothing wicked, nor perverse in them. |
9 |
They are right to them that understand, and just to them that find knowledge. |
10 |
Receive my instruction, and not money: choose knowledge rather than gold. |
11 |
For wisdom is better than all the most precious things: and whatsoever may be desired cannot be compared to it. |
12 |
I, wisdom, dwell in counsel, and am present in learned thoughts. |
13 |
The fear of the Lord hateth evil; I hate arrogance, and pride, and every wicked way, and a mouth with a double tongue. |
14 |
Counsel and equity is mine, prudence is mine, strength is mine. |
15 |
By me kings reign, and lawgivers decree just things. |
16 |
By me princes rule, and the mighty decree justice. |
17 |
I love them that love me: and they that in the morning early watch for me, shall find me. |
18 |
With me are riches and glory, glorious riches and justice. |
19 |
For my fruit is better than gold and the precious stone, and my blossoms than choice silver. |
20 |
I walk in the way of justice, in the midst of the paths of judgment, |
21 |
That I may enrich them that love me, and may fill their treasures. |
22 |
The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his ways, before he made any thing from the beginning. |
23 |
I was set up from eternity, and of old, before the earth was made. |
24 |
The depths were not as yet, and I was already conceived, neither had the fountains of waters as yet sprung out. |
25 |
The mountains, with their huge bulk, had not as yet been established: before the hills, I was brought forth: |
26 |
He had not yet made the earth, nor the rivers, nor the poles of the world. |
27 |
When he prepared the heavens, I was present: when with a certain law, and compass, he enclosed the depths: |
28 |
When he established the sky above, and poised the fountains of waters: |
29 |
When he compassed the sea with its bounds, and set a law to the waters that they should not pass their limits: when he balanced the foundations of the earth; |
30 |
I was with him forming all things: and was delighted every day, playing before him at all times; |
31 |
Playing in the world: and my delights were to be with the children of men. |
32 |
Now, therefore, ye children, hear me: blessed are they that keep my ways. |
33 |
Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. |
34 |
Blessed is the man that heareth me, and that watcheth daily at my gates, and waiteth at the posts of my doors. |
35 |
He that shall find me, shall find life, and shall have salvation from the Lord. |
36 |
But he that shall sin against me shall hurt his own soul. All that hate me love death. |
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