Proverbs 8:9-34

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.

²⁶I was born before Yahweh had made the earth or the fields, or even the first dust in the world.

²⁷I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew a circle on the surface of the deep.

²⁸I was there when he established the clouds above and when the springs in the deep became fixed.

²⁹I was there when he made his limit for the sea, so the waters should not spread beyond his command, and when there was set the limit for the foundations of the dry land.

³⁰I was beside him, as a skilled craftsman; I was his delight day after day, always rejoicing before him.

³¹I was rejoicing in his whole world, and my delight was in the sons of mankind.

³²Now, my sons, listen to me, for those who keep my ways will be blessed.

³³Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not neglect it.

³⁴The one who listens to me will be blessed. He will be watching every day at my doors, waiting beside the posts of my doors.