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Proverbs 8, RSV

8:1 Does not wisdom call, does not understanding raise her voice?

8:2 On the heights beside the way, in the paths she takes her stand;

8:3 beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:

8:4 "To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the sons of men.

8:5 O simple ones, learn prudence; O foolish men, pay attention.

8:6 Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right;

8:7 for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

8:8 All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.

8:9 They are all straight to him who understands and right to those who find knowledge.

8:10 Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold;

8:11 for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

8:12 I, wisdom, dwell in prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.

8:13 The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.

8:14 I have counsel and sound wisdom, I have insight, I have strength.

8:15 By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just;

8:16 by me princes rule, and nobles govern the earth.

8:17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.

8:18 Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and prosperity.

8:19 My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver.

8:20 I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice,

8:21 endowing with wealth those who love me, and filling their treasuries.

8:22 The LORD created me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old.

8:23 Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.

8:24 When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water.

8:25 Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth;

8:26 before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world.

8:27 When he established the heavens, I was there, when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,

8:28 when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep,

8:29 when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,

8:30 then I was beside him, like a master workman; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always,

8:31 rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the sons of men.

8:32 And now, my sons, listen to me: happy are those who keep my ways.

8:33 Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.

8:34 Happy is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.

8:35 For he who finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD;

8:36 but he who misses me injures himself; all who hate me love death."

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