Proverbs 8:1-35

¹Isn't wisdom calling? Isn't understanding raising her voice?

²On the top of the hill by the road, she stands up at the crossroads.

³Beside the gates of the town, right there at the entrance, she cries out:

⁴“I'm calling out to you, everyone! My call is to everyone in the whole world!

⁵If you're immature, learn how to grow up. If you're stupid, learn what makes good sense.

⁶Listen to me because I have valuable things to explain to you.

⁷I say what's right, because I tell the truth and I hate wickedness in all its forms.

⁸All the words I say are true; none are false or misleading.

⁹My words are straightforward to anyone with understanding; they are correct to those who have knowledge.

¹⁰Choose my instruction over silver; choose knowledge over pure gold.

¹¹For wisdom is more valuable than rubies; everything you could ever want just doesn't compare!

¹²I, wisdom, am at home with good decisions. I know how to find knowledge and discernment.

¹³Honoring the Lord means hating evil. So I hate pride and arrogance, wicked behavior and telling lies.

¹⁴I have advice and good judgment; I know what makes sense, and I have power.

¹⁵It's because of me that kings reign, and rulers issue fair decrees.

¹⁶It's because of me that leaders and nobles govern—all who rule justly.

¹⁷I love those who love me, and those who really look for me will find me.

¹⁸With me go riches and honor, lasting wealth and prosperity.

¹⁹The fruit I produce is better than gold, even pure gold, and my harvest is better than even the best silver.

²⁰I live in a way that's right; I follow the paths of justice.

²¹I grant wealth to those who love me; I fill their treasure storehouses.

²²The Lord created me first of all; I was made before anything else.

²³I was formed a long time ago, at the first, before the world began.

²⁴I was born when there were no ocean depths, when there were no springs pouring out water.

²⁵I was born before the mountains or the hills had been formed,

²⁶when he hadn't made the earth and its fields or any of the earth's dust.

²⁷I was there when he placed the heavens in position, when he drew the horizon over the ocean,

²⁸when he made the clouds in the sky above, when he created the springs of the oceans,

²⁹when he set limits on the sea so that the waters would not go farther than he ordered, and when he laid out the foundations of the earth.

³⁰Then I was beside him as a master craftsman. I made him happy every day, and I was always full of joy in his presence.

³¹I was so happy in the world he created, celebrating together with human beings.

³²And now, my sons, listen to me, for happy are those who follow my ways.

³³Listen to my instruction and be wise—do not reject it.

³⁴Happy are those who listen to me, watching for me every day at my doors, waiting at my entrance way.

³⁵For those who find me, find life, and are accepted by the Lord.