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8:1  Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice?
8:2  She takes her stand on the top of the hill beside the way, where the paths meet.
8:3  Beside the gates in front of the town, at the open doors, she cries out,
8:4  “I call to you, O men. My voice is to the sons of men.
8:5  O child-like ones, learn to use wisdom. O fools, make your mind understand.
8:6  Listen, for I will speak great things. What is right will come from my lips.
8:7  For my mouth will speak the truth. My lips hate wrong-doing.
8:8  All the words of my mouth are right and good. There is nothing in them that is against the truth.
8:9  They are all clear to him who understands, and right to those who find much learning.
8:10  Take my teaching instead of silver. Take much learning instead of fine gold.
8:11  For wisdom is better than stones of great worth. All that you may desire cannot compare with her.
8:12  “I, wisdom, live with understanding, and I find much learning and careful thinking.
8:13  The fear of the Lord is to hate what is sinful. I hate pride, self-love, the way of sin, and lies.
8:14  I have teaching and wisdom. I have understanding and power.
8:15  By me kings rule and rulers make laws that are fair.
8:16  By me rulers rule, and all the princes rule on the earth.
8:17  I love those who love me, and those who look for me with much desire will find me.
8:18  Riches and honor are mine, lasting riches and being right with God.
8:19  My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold. What I give is better than fine silver.
8:20  I walk in the way that is right with God, in the center of the ways that are fair.
8:21  I give riches to those who love me, and fill their store-houses.
8:22  “The Lord made me at the beginning of His work, before His first works long ago.
8:23  I was set apart long ago, from the beginning, before the earth was.
8:24  I was born when there were no seas, when there were no pools full of water.
8:25  I was born before the mountains and hills were in their places.
8:26  It was before He had made the earth or the fields, or the first dust of the world.
8:27  I was there when He made the heavens, and when He drew a mark around the top of the sea.
8:28  I was there when He put the skies above, and when He put the wells of the waters in their place.
8:29  I was there when He marked out the places for the sea, so that the waters would not go farther than what He said. I was there when He marked out the ground for the earth.
8:30  I was beside Him as the leading workman. I was His joy every day. I was always happy when I was near Him.
8:31  I was happy in the world, His earth, and found joy in the sons of men.
8:32  “So now, O sons, listen to me, for happy are they who keep my ways.
8:33  Hear my teaching and be wise. Do not turn away from it.
8:34  Happy is the man who listens to me, watching every day at my gates, waiting beside my doors.
8:35  For he who finds me finds life, and gets favor from the Lord.
8:36  But he who misses me hurts himself. All those who hate me love death.”