Proverbs 8:1-16

Common English Bible

⁴ I cry out to you, people;
    my voice goes out to all of humanity.
⁵ Understand skill, you who are naive.
    Take this to heart, you fools.
⁶ Listen, for I speak things that are correct;
    from my lips comes what is right.
⁷ My mouth utters the truth;
    my lips despise wickedness.
⁸ All the words of my mouth are righteous;
    nothing in them is twisted or crooked.
⁹ All of them are straightforward to those who understand,
    and upright for the knowledgeable.
¹⁰ Take my instruction rather than silver,
    knowledge rather than choice gold.
¹¹ Wisdom is better than pearls;
    nothing is more delightful than she.

¹² I, Wisdom, dwell with prudence;
    I have found knowledge and discretion.
¹³ To fear the Lord is to hate evil.
    I hate pride and arrogance,
        the path of evil and corrupt speech.
¹⁴ I have advice and ability,
    as well as understanding and strength.
¹⁵ By me kings rule,
    and princes issue righteous decrees.
¹⁶ By me rulers govern,
    and officials judge righteously.^[a]