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8:1  Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?
8:2  At the highest point along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
8:3  beside the gate leading into the city, at the entrance, she cries aloud:
8:4  "To you, O people, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind.
8:5  You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.
8:6  Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right.
8:7  My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness.
8:8  All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse.
8:9  To the discerning all of them are right; they are upright to those who have found knowledge.
8:10  Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold,
8:11  for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.
8:12  "I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion.
8:13  To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
8:14  Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight, I have power.
8:15  By me kings reign and rulers issue decrees that are just;
8:16  by me princes govern, and nobles--all who rule on earth.
8:17  I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.
8:18  With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.
8:19  My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver.
8:20  I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
8:21  bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me and making their treasuries full.
8:22  "The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old;
8:23  I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be.
8:24  When there were no watery depths, I was given birth, when there were no springs overflowing with water;
8:25  before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth,
8:26  before he made the world or its fields or any of the dust of the earth.
8:27  I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,
8:28  when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,
8:29  when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.
8:30  Then I was constantly at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence,
8:31  rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind.
8:32  "Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.
8:33  Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it.
8:34  Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.
8:35  For those who find me find life and receive favor from the LORD.
8:36  But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death."