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