8:1 Does not wisdom call Does not understanding raise her voice 8:2 On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads 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 children of man. 8:5 O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense. 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 with 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, all who govern justly. 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 righteousness. 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 granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries. 8:22 "The LORD possessed 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 children of man. 8:32 "And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways. 8:33 Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. 8:34 Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. 8:35 For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD, 8:36 but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death."