8 Does not wisdom cry, and understanding utter her voice?

² She stands in the top of the high places; by the way, in the place of the paths.

³ She cries at the gates, before the city, at the entry of the doors,

⁴ “O men, I call to you; and my voice to the children of man.

⁵ “O foolish, understand wisdom. And, O fools, be wise in heart.

⁶ “Give ear. For I will speak of excellent things. And the opening of my lips shall teach things that are right.

⁷ “For my mouth shall speak the truth. And my lips abhor wickedness.8 All the words of my mouth are righteous. There is no lewdness, nor perversion in them.

⁹ “They are all plain to those who will understand; and straight to those who would find knowledge.

¹⁰ “Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than fine gold.

¹¹ “For wisdom is better than precious stones. And all pleasures are not to be compared to her.

¹² “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence. And I find out knowledge and discretion.

¹³ “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil. I hate pride and arrogance and the evil way and a mouth that speaks lewd things.

¹⁴ “I have counsel and wisdom. I am understanding. I have strength.

¹⁵ “By me kings reign and princes decree justice.

¹⁶ “By me princes rule; and the nobles; and all the judges of the Earth.

¹⁷ “I love those who love me. And those who seek me early shall find me.

¹⁸ “Riches and honor are with me, durable riches and righteousness.

¹⁹ “My fruit is better than gold—than fine gold—and my revenues better than fine silver.

²⁰ “I cause to walk in the way of righteousness; in the midst of the paths of judgment,

²¹ “that I may cause those who love me to inherit substance. And I will fill their treasures.

²² “The LORD has possessed me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old.

²³ “I was set up from everlasting; from the beginning, before the Earth.

²⁴ “I was begotten when there were no depths; when there were no fountains abounding with water;

²⁵ “before the mountains were settled. Before the hills, was I begotten.

²⁶ “He had not yet made the Earth, nor the open places, nor the height of the dust in the world.

²⁷ “I was there when He prepared the heavens; when He set the compass upon the deep;

²⁸ “when He established the clouds above; when He confirmed the fountains of the deep;

²⁹ “when He gave His Decree to the sea that the waters should not pass His Commandment; when He appointed the foundations of the Earth.

³⁰ “Then I was with Him, a nourisher. And I was His daily delight, rejoicing always before Him;

³¹ “and took my solace in the compass of His Earth, and my delight with the children of man.

³² “Therefore, now listen to me, O children. For blessed are those who keep my ways.

³³ “Hear instruction and be wise. And do not refuse it. Blessed is the man who hears me; watching daily at my gates; giving attendance at the posts of my doors.

³⁴ “For whoever finds me, finds life, and shall obtain favor from the LORD.

³⁵ “But whoever sins against me, hurts his own soul. All who hate me, love death.”