Proverbs 8:1-16

Common English Bible

Wisdom’s autobiography

8 Doesn’t Wisdom cry out
    and Understanding shout?
²Atop the heights along the path,
    at the crossroads she takes her stand.
³By the gate before the city,
    at the entrances she shouts:

⁴I cry out to you, people;
    my voice goes out to all of humanity.
⁵Understand skill, you who are naive.
    Take this to heart, you fools.
⁶Listen, for I speak things that are correct;
    from my lips comes what is right.
⁷My mouth utters the truth;
    my lips despise wickedness.
⁸All the words of my mouth are righteous;
    nothing in them is twisted or crooked.
⁹All of them are straightforward to those who understand,
    and upright for the knowledgeable.
¹⁰Take my instruction rather than silver,
    knowledge rather than choice gold.
¹¹Wisdom is better than pearls;
    nothing is more delightful than she.

¹²I, Wisdom, dwell with prudence;
    I have found knowledge and discretion.
¹³To fear the Lord is to hate evil.
    I hate pride and arrogance,
        the path of evil and corrupt speech.
¹⁴I have advice and ability,
    as well as understanding and strength.
¹⁵By me kings rule,
    and princes issue righteous decrees.
¹⁶By me rulers govern,
    and officials judge righteously.^[a]