8: 2 On the top of high places by the way, Where the paths meet, she standeth;
8: 3 Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, At the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud:
8: 4 Unto you, O men, I call; And my voice is to the sons of men.
8: 5 O ye simple, understand prudence; And, ye fools, be of an understanding heart.
8: 6 Hear, for I will speak excellent things; And the opening of my lips shall be right things.
8: 7 For my mouth shall utter truth; And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8: 8 All the words of my mouth 78are in righteousness; There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
78Or, are righteousness;
8: 9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, And right to them that find knowledge.
8: 10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; And knowledge rather than choice gold.
8: 11 For wisdom is better than rubies; And all the things that may be desired are not to be compared unto it.
8: 12 I wisdom have made prudence my dwelling, And find out 79knowledge and discretion.
79Or, knowledge of witty inventions.
8: 13 The awe of Jehovah is to hate evil: Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, And the perverse mouth, do I hate.
8: 14 Counsel is mine, and 80sound knowledge: I am understanding; I have might.
80Or, effectual working:
8: 15 By me kings reign, And princes decree justice.
8: 16 By me 81princes rule, And nobles, even all the 82judges of the earth.
81Or, rulers
82Some mss., Aram., Vg. read righteous judges.
8: 17 I love them that love me; And those that seek me 83diligently shall find me.
83Or, early
8: 18 Riches and honor are with me; Yes, 84durable wealth and righteousness.
84Or, ancient
8: 19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold; And my 85revenue than choice silver.
85Or, increase
8: 20 I walk in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice;
8: 21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, And that I may fill their treasuries.
8: 22 Jehovah 86acquired me as the beginning of his way, The first of his works of old.
86Or, possessed me in the beginning of his way, Before his works of old. or, bought me etc. Sept., Aram., Targ. read created me etc.
8: 23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, Before the earth was.
8: 24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water.
8: 25 Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills was I brought forth;
8: 26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor fields, Nor the 87beginning of the dust of the world.
87Or, sum
8: 27 When he 88established the heavens, I was there: When he set a circle upon the face of the deep,
88Or, prepared the heavens,
8: 28 When he made firm the skies above, When the fountains of the deep became strong,
8: 29 When he gave to the sea 89its bound, That the waters should not transgress his commandment, When he 90marked out the foundations of the earth;
89Or, his decree,
90Or, appointed the foundations of the earth;
8: 30 Then I was by him, as a master workman; And I 91was daily his delight. 92Rejoicing always before him,
91Or, had delight continually,
92Or, Sporting Also in vs. 31.
8: 31 Rejoicing in his habitable earth; And my delight was with the sons of men.
8: 32 Now therefore, my sons, hearken unto me; For blessed are they that keep my ways.
8: 33 Hear instruction, and be wise, And refuse it not.
8: 34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors.
8: 35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, And shall 93obtain favor of Jehovah.
93Hb. draw forth favor
8: 36 But 94he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: All they that hate me love death.
94Or, he that misseth me wrongeth his own soul:
