Proverbs 8-9

Proverbs 8

¹Does not wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice?

²On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads she takes her stand.

³Beside the gates to the city, at the entrances she cries out:

⁴“To you, O men, I call out, and my cry is to the sons of men.

⁵O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding.

⁶Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right.

⁷For my mouth will speak the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips.

⁸All the words of my mouth are righteous; none are crooked or perverse.

⁹They are all plain to the discerning, and upright to those who find knowledge.

¹⁰Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.

¹¹For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her.

¹²I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.

¹³To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.

¹⁴Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength.

¹⁵By me kings reign, and rulers enact just laws;

¹⁶By me princes rule, and all nobles who govern justly.

¹⁷I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.

¹⁸With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and righteousness.

¹⁹My fruit is better than gold, pure gold, and my harvest surpasses choice silver.

²⁰I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,

²¹bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.

²²The LORD created me as His first course, before His works of old.

²³From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began.

²⁴When there were no watery depths, I was brought forth, when no springs were overflowing with water.

²⁵Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth,

²⁶before He made the land or fields, or any of the dust of the earth.

²⁷I was there when He established the heavens, when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,

²⁸when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth,

²⁹when He set a boundary for the sea, so that the waters would not surpass His command, when He marked out the foundations of the earth.

³⁰Then I was a skilled craftsman at His side, and His delight day by day, rejoicing always in His presence.

³¹I was rejoicing in His whole world, delighting together in the sons of men.

³²Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.

³³Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.

³⁴Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway.

³⁵For whoever finds me finds life and obtains the favor of the LORD.

³⁶But he who fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.”

Proverbs 9

¹Wisdom has built her house; she has carved out her seven pillars.

²She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table.

³She has sent out her maidservants; she calls out from the heights of the city.

⁴“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” she says to him who lacks judgment.

⁵“Come, eat my bread and drink the wine I have mixed.

⁶Leave your folly behind, and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.”

⁷He who corrects a mocker brings shame on himself; he who rebukes a wicked man taints himself.

⁸Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.

⁹Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning.

¹⁰The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

¹¹For through wisdom your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.

¹²If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage; but if you scoff, you alone will bear the consequences.

¹³The woman named Folly is loud; she is naive and knows nothing.

¹⁴She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the heights of the city,

¹⁵calling out to those who pass by, who make their paths straight.

¹⁶“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” she says to him who lacks judgment.

¹⁷“Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is tasty!”

¹⁸But they do not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.