The Holy Bible
« Chapter 7 «--- Proverbs ---» Chapter 9»
Proverbs 8 : 1 - 36
Chapter 8
1 | Does not wisdom cry out, And understanding lift up her voice?
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2 | She takes her stand on the top of the high hill, Beside the way, where the paths meet.
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3 | She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city, At the entrance of the doors:
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4 | "To you, O men, I call, And my voice is to the sons of men.
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5 | O you simple ones, understand prudence, And you fools, be of an understanding heart.
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6 | Listen, for I will speak of excellent things, And from the opening of my lips will come right things;
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7 | For my mouth will speak truth; Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
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8 | All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; Nothing crooked or perverse is in them.
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9 | They are all plain to him who understands, And right to those who find knowledge.
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10 | Receive my instruction, and not silver, And knowledge rather than choice gold;
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11 | For wisdom is better than rubies, And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.
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12 | "I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And find out knowledge and discretion.
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13 | The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.
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14 | Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength.
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15 | By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice.
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16 | By me princes rule, and nobles, All the judges of the earth.
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17 | I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me.
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18 | Riches and honor are with me, Enduring riches and righteousness.
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19 | My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, And my revenue than choice silver.
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20 | I traverse the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice,
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21 | That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, That I may fill their treasuries.
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22 | "The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old.
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23 | I have been established from everlasting, From the beginning, before there was ever an earth.
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24 | When there were no depths I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water.
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25 | Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills, I was brought forth;
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26 | While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields, Or the primal dust of the world.
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27 | When He prepared the heavens, I was there, When He drew a circle on the face of the deep,
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28 | When He established the clouds above, When He strengthened the fountains of the deep,
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29 | When He assigned to the sea its limit, So that the waters would not transgress His command, When He marked out the foundations of the earth,
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30 | Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him,
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31 | Rejoicing in His inhabited world, And my delight was with the sons of men.
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32 | "Now therefore, listen to me, my children, For blessed are those who keep my ways.
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33 | Hear instruction and be wise, And do not disdain it.
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34 | Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors.
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35 | For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the LORD;
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36 | But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; All those who hate me love death."
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Acknowledgement
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