章 |
8:1 |
Does not wisdom call, and does not understanding raise her voice?
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8:2 |
On the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand;
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8:3 |
beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries out:
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8:4 |
"To you, O people, I call, and my cry is to all that live.
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8:5 |
O simple ones, learn prudence; acquire intelligence, you who lack it.
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8:6 |
Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right;
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8:7 |
for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
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8:8 |
All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.
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8:9 |
They are all straight to one who understands and right to those who find knowledge.
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8:10 |
Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold;
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8:11 |
for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.
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8:12 |
I, wisdom, live with prudence, and I attain knowledge and discretion.
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8:13 |
The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.
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8:14 |
I have good advice and sound wisdom; I have insight, I have strength.
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8:15 |
By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just;
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8:16 |
by me rulers rule, and nobles, all who govern rightly.
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8:17 |
I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.
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8:18 |
Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and prosperity.
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8:19 |
My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver.
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8:20 |
I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
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8:21 |
endowing with wealth those who love me, and filling their treasuries.
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8:22 |
The LORD created me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of long ago.
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8:23 |
Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
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8:24 |
When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water.
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8:25 |
Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth--
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8:26 |
when he had not yet made earth and fields, or the world's first bits of soil.
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8:27 |
When he established the heavens, I was there, when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
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8:28 |
when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep,
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8:29 |
when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
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8:30 |
then I was beside him, like a master worker; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always,
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8:31 |
rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the human race.
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8:32 |
And now, my children, listen to me: happy are those who keep my ways.
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8:33 |
Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.
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8:34 |
Happy is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.
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8:35 |
For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD;
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8:36 |
but those who miss me injure themselves; all who hate me love death."
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