Chapter 8

¹ Thou shalt proclaim wisdom, that understanding may be obedient to thee. ² For she is on lofty eminences, and stands in the midst of the ways. ³ For she sits by the gates of princes, and sings in the entrances, saying, ⁴ You, O men, I exhort; and utter my voice to the sons of men. ⁵ O ye ¹simple, understand subtlety, and ye that are untaught, imbibe knowledge. ⁶ Hearken

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to me; for I will speak solemn truths; and will produce right sayings from my lips. ⁷ For my throat shall meditate truth; and false lips are an abomination before me. ⁸ All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing in them wrong or perverse. ⁹ They are all evident to those that understand, and right to those that find knowledge. ¹⁰ Receive instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than tried gold. ¹¹ For wisdom is better than precious stones; and no valuable substance is of equal worth with it.

¹² I wisdom have dwelt with counsel and knowledge, and I have called upon understanding. ¹³ The fear of the Lord hates unrighteousness, and insolence, and pride, and the ways of wicked men; and I hate the perverse ways of bad men. ¹⁴ Counsel and safety are mine; prudence is mine, and strength is mine. ¹⁵ By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. ¹⁶ By me nobles become great, and monarchs by me rule over the earth. ¹⁷ I love those that love me; and they that seek me shall find me.

¹⁸ Wealth and glory belong to me; yea, abundant possessions and righteousness. ¹⁹ It is better to have my fruit than to have gold and precious stones; and my produce is better than choice silver. ²⁰ I walk in ways of righteousness, and am conversant with the paths of judgement; ²¹ that I may divide substance to them that love me, and may fill their treasures with good things. If I declare to you the things that daily happen, I will remember also to recount the things of old.

²² The Lord made me the beginning of his ways for his works. ²³ He established me ²before time was in the beginning, before he made the earth: ²⁴ even before he made the depths; before the fountains of water came forth: ²⁵ before the mountains were settled, and before all hills, he begets me. ²⁶ The Lord made countries and uninhabited tracks, and the highest inhabited parts of the world. ²⁷ When he prepared the heaven, I was present with him; and when he ³prepared his throne upon the winds: ²⁸ and when he strengthened the clouds above; and when he secured the fountains of the earth: ^{29 4}and when he strengthened the foundations of the earth: ³⁰ I was by him, ⁵suiting myself to him, I was that wherein he took delight; and daily I rejoiced in his presence continually. ³¹ For he rejoiced when he had completed the world, and rejoiced among the children of men.

³² Now then, my son, hear me: ⁶blessed is the man who shall hearken to me, and the mortal who shall keep my ways; ^{33 34} watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my entrances. ³⁵ For my outgoings are the outgoings of life, and in them is prepared favour from the Lord. ³⁶ But they that sin against me act wickedly against their own souls: and they that hate me love death.