Proverbs 8:4-25

⁴“It is to you, people, that I call; my voice is for the sons of mankind.

⁵You who are naive, learn wisdom; and you who are foolish, you must get an understanding mind.

⁶Listen, because I will speak of noble things, and when my lips open I will say upright things.

⁷For my mouth speaks what is trustworthy, and wickedness is disgusting to my lips.

⁸All the words of my mouth are just; in them is nothing twisted or misleading.

⁹All of them are straight for the person who understands; my words are upright for those who find knowledge.

¹⁰Acquire my instruction rather than silver; acquire knowledge rather than pure gold.

¹¹For Wisdom is better than jewels; no treasure is equal to her.

¹²I, Wisdom, live with Prudence, and I possess knowledge and discretion.

¹³The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil. I hate pride and arrogance, the evil way, and perverted speech. I hate them.

¹⁴I have good advice and sound wisdom; I am insight; strength belongs to me.

¹⁵By me kings reign, and rulers make laws that are just.

¹⁶By me princes rule, nobles, and all who govern with justice.

¹⁷I love those who love me, and those who diligently seek me, find me.

¹⁸With me are riches and honor, lasting wealth and righteousness.

¹⁹My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold; my produce is better than pure silver.

²⁰I walk in the path of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice.

²¹As a result, I make those who love me inherit wealth; I fill up their treasuries.

²²Yahweh created me at the beginning, the first of his deeds then.

²³In ages long ago I was made—from the first, from the beginnings of the earth.

²⁴Before there were oceans, I was given birth— before there were springs abounding with water.

²⁵Before the mountains were settled and before the hills, I was born.