Proverbs 8:4-22

⁴You, O men, I exhort; and utter my voice to the sons of men.

⁵O ye simple, understand subtlety, and ye that are untaught, imbibe knowledge.

⁶Hearken to me; for I will speak solemn truths; and will produce right sayings from my lips.

⁷For my throat shall meditate truth; and false lips are an abomination before me.

⁸All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing in them wrong or perverse.

⁹They are all evident to those that understand, and right to those that find knowledge.

¹⁰Receive instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than tried gold.

¹¹For wisdom is better than precious stones; and no valuable substance is of equal worth with it.

¹²I wisdom have dwelt with counsel and knowledge, and I have called upon understanding.

¹³The fear of the Lord hates unrighteousness, and insolence, and pride, and the ways of wicked men; and I hate the perverse ways of bad men.

¹⁴Counsel and safety are mine: prudence is mine, and strength is mine.

¹⁵By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.

¹⁶By me nobles become great, and monarchs by me rule over the earth.

¹⁷I love those that love me; and they that seek me shall find me.

¹⁸Wealth and glory belong to me; yea, abundant possessions and righteousness.

¹⁹It is better to have my fruit than to have gold and precious stones; and my produce is better than choice silver.

²⁰I walk in ways of righteousness, and am conversant with the paths of judgment;

²¹that I may divide substance to them that love me, and may fill their treasures with good things.

^21aIf I declare to you the things that daily happen, I will remember also to recount the things of old.

²²The Lord made me the beginning of his ways for his works.