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8:1  Listen! Wisdom is calling out. She wants you to understand what is right, so she speaks in a loud voice.
8:2  She stands where people will hear her, on the hills along the road. She stands where different paths meet.
8:3  She stands near the gates where people go into the city. This is what she says:
8:4  ‘I call out to all of you, wherever you live on earth.
8:5  You who are silly, learn to be wise! You who are fools, learn to understand what is right.
8:6  Listen! I have important things to tell you. Everything that I will speak is right.
8:7  I say only things that are true. I hate all wicked lies.
8:8  Everything that I say is right and true. I say nothing that will deceive you.
8:9  If you understand what is right, you will understand all my words. If you have knowledge, you will know that they are true.
8:10  Receive my wise teaching and knowledge as valuable things. They are more valuable than silver or the best gold.
8:11  Wisdom is more valuable than jewels. Nothing that you might ever want is equal to it.
8:12  I, wisdom, live with an honest mind as my friend. I have knowledge and I understand what is right.
8:13  If you respect the Lord with fear, then you will hate anything that is evil. I hate proud people who boast. I hate people who live evil lives. I hate people who say things to deceive others.
8:14  I tell people how to do wise things that are right. I understand what is right and I am strong.
8:15  I help kings to rule well. I help rulers to make fair laws.
8:16  I help leaders, officers and all judges to lead people in a good way.
8:17  I love those people who love me. Whoever looks for me will find me.
8:18  I am able to give people riches and honour. I help people to use their money well and to do what is right.
8:19  What you receive from me is better than the best gold. It is better than the best silver.
8:20  I walk along the way that is righteous. I follow the path of justice.
8:21  In that way, people who love me will receive riches. I fill their houses with valuable things.
8:22  The Lord created me as the first thing that he did. That was the first of his acts long ago.
8:23  He chose me as his servant from the beginning of time. That was before the world began.
8:24  I was born before the deep seas were there. There were not yet springs that poured out water.
8:25  I was born before the mountains or the hills appeared in their places.
8:26  I was born before the Lord made the earth and its fields, before there was soil on the earth.
8:27  I was there when he put the heavens in their place. I was there when he made the border of the sea where it meets the sky.
8:28  I was there when he put the clouds in the sky. I was there when he made streams of water fill the seas.
8:29  He gave his command to the seas, that they should obey him. The waters of the sea must stay inside its borders. I was there when he built the foundations of the earth.
8:30  When the Lord made all that happen, I was beside him as his faithful helper. I pleased him every day, and I was happy to be with him.
8:31  The world that he had made gave me great joy. The people who lived on it made me happy.
8:32  So listen to me, my children. Anyone who obeys my teaching will be happy.
8:33  Listen when I tell you what is right for you to do. Then you will be wise. Do not forget what I tell you.
8:34  Anyone who listens to me is in a happy place. You can wait outside my home each day, and I will teach you.
8:35  Anyone who finds me, wisdom, finds true life. The Lord will bless that person.
8:36  But anyone who does not find me brings trouble on himself. Everybody who hates me loves death.’