14 I have (A)counsel and (B)sound wisdom;
    I have insight; (C)I have strength.
15 By me (D)kings reign,
    and rulers decree what is just;
16 by me princes rule,
    and nobles, all who govern justly.[a]
17 (E)I love those who love me,
    and (F)those who seek me diligently find me.
18 (G)Riches and honor are with me,
    (H)enduring wealth and (I)righteousness.
19 My fruit is (J)better than (K)gold, even fine gold,
    and my yield than (L)choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
    in the paths of justice,
21 granting an inheritance to those who love me,
    and filling their treasuries.

22 (M)“The Lord (N)possessed[b] me at the beginning of his work,[c]
    the first of his acts (O)of old.
23 Ages ago I was (P)set up,
    at the first, (Q)before the beginning of the earth.
24 When there were no (R)depths I was (S)brought forth,
    when there were no springs abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains (T)had been shaped,
    (U)before the hills, I was brought forth,
26 before he had made the earth with its fields,
    or the first of the dust of the world.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 8:16 Most Hebrew manuscripts; many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint govern the earth
  2. Proverbs 8:22 Or fathered; Septuagint created
  3. Proverbs 8:22 Hebrew way

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