Proverbs 8:1-21

New American Standard Bible

The Commendation of Wisdom

8 Does not ^(A)wisdom call,
And understanding ^[a]raise her voice?
²On top of ^(B)the heights beside the way,
Where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
³Beside the ^(C)gates, at the opening to the city,
At the entrance of the doors, she cries out:
⁴“To you, people, I call,
And my voice is to ^[b]mankind.
⁵You ^(D)naive ones, understand prudence;
And, you ^(E)fools, understand ^[c]wisdom!
⁶Listen, for I will speak ^(F)noble things;
And the opening of my lips will reveal ^(G)right things.
⁷For my ^(H)mouth will proclaim truth;
And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
⁸All the words of my mouth are in righteousness;
There is nothing ^(I)crooked or perverted in them.
⁹They are all ^(J)straightforward to him who understands,
And right to those who ^(K)find knowledge.
¹⁰Accept my ^(L)instruction and not silver,
And knowledge rather than choice gold.
¹¹For wisdom is ^(M)better than ^[d]jewels;
And ^(N)all desirable things cannot compare with her.

¹²“I, wisdom, ^(O)dwell with prudence,
And I find ^(P)knowledge and discretion.
¹³The ^(Q)fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
^(R)Pride, arrogance, ^(S)the evil way,
And the ^(T)perverted mouth, I hate.
¹⁴^(U)Advice is mine and ^(V)sound wisdom;
I am understanding, ^(W)power is mine.
¹⁵By me ^(X)kings reign,
And rulers decree justice.
¹⁶By me princes rule, and nobles,
All who judge rightly.
¹⁷I ^(Y)love those who love me;
And ^(Z)those who diligently seek me will find me.
¹⁸^(AA)Riches and honor are with me,
Enduring ^(AB)wealth and righteousness.
¹⁹My fruit is ^(AC)better than gold, even pure gold;
And my yield better than ^(AD)choice silver.
²⁰I walk in the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice,
²¹To endow those who love me with wealth,
That I may ^(AE)fill their treasuries.