Proverbs 8

NEW JERUSALEM	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Is not Wisdom cal ing? Is not Understanding raising her voice?	1 Doth not wisdom cry aloud, and prudence put forth her voice ?
2 On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossways, she takes her stand;	2 Standing in the top of the highest places by the way, in the midst of the paths.
3 by the gates, at the entrance to the city, on the access-roads, she cries out,	3 Beside the gates of the city, in the very doors she speaketh, saying:
4 'I am cal ing to you, al people, my words are addressed to al humanity.	4 O ye men, to you I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.
5 Simpletons, learn how to behave, fools, come to your senses.	5 O little ones, understand subtilty, and ye unwise, take notice.
6 Listen, I have something important to tel you, when I speak, my words are right.	6 Hear, for I will speak of great things: and my lips shall be opened to preach right things.
7 My mouth proclaims the truth, for evil is abhorrent to my lips.	7 My mouth shall meditate truth, and my lips shall hate wickedness.
8 Al the words from my mouth are upright, nothing false there, nothing crooked,	8 All my words are just, there is nothing wicked nor perverse in them.
9 everything plain, if you can understand, straight, if you have acquired knowledge.	9 They are right to them that understand, and just to them that find knowledge.
10 Accept my discipline rather than silver, and knowledge of me in preference to finest gold.	10 Receive my instruction, and not money: choose knowledge rather than gold.
11 For Wisdom is more precious than jewels, and nothing else is so worthy of desire.	11 ,11For wisdom is better than all the most precious things: and whatsoever may be desired cannot be compared to
12 'I, Wisdom, share house with Discretion, I am mistress of the art of thought.	12 I wisdom dwell in counsel, and am present in learned thoughts.
13 (Fear of Yahweh means hatred of evil.) I hate pride and arrogance, wicked behaviour and a lyingmouth.	13 The fear of the Lord hateth evil: I hate arrogance, and pride, and every wicked way, and a mouth with a double tongue.
14 To me belong good advice and prudence, I am perception: power is mine!	14 Counsel and equity is mine, prudence is mine, strength is mine.
15 By me monarchs rule and princes decree what is right;	15 By me kings reign, and lawgivers decree just things,
16 by me rulers govern, so do nobles, the lawful authorities.	16 By me princes rule, and the mighty decree justice.
17 I love those who love me; whoever searches eagerly for me finds me.	17 I love them that love me: and they that in the morning early watch for me, shall find me.
18 With me are riches and honour, lasting wealth and saving justice.	18 With me are riches and glory, glorious riches and justice.
19 The fruit I give is better than gold, even the finest, the return I make is better than pure silver.	19 For my fruit is better than gold and the precious stone, and my blossoms than choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of uprightness in the path of justice,	20 I walk in the way of justice, in the midst of the paths of judgment,
21 to endow my friends with my wealth and to fil their treasuries.	21 That I may enrich them that love me, and may fill their treasures.
22 'Yahweh created me, first-fruits of his fashioning, before the oldest of his works.	22 The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his ways, before he made any thing from the beginning.
23 From everlasting, I was firmly set, from the beginning, before the earth came into being.	23 I was set up from eternity, and of old before the earth was made.
24 The deep was not, when I was born, nor were the springs with their abounding waters.	24 The depths were not as yet, and I was already conceived. neither had the fountains of waters as yet sprung out:
25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hil s, I came to birth;	25 The mountains with their huge bulk had not as yet been established: before the hills I was brought forth:
26 before he had made the earth, the countryside, and the first elements of the world.	26 He had not yet made the earth, nor the rivers, nor the poles of the world.
27 When he fixed the heavens firm, I was there, when he drew a circle on the surface of the deep,	27 When he prepared the heavens, I was present: when with a certain law and compass he enclosed the depths:
28 when he thickened the clouds above, when the sources of the deep began to swel ,	28 When he established the sky above, and poised the fountains of waters:
29 when he assigned the sea its boundaries -- and the waters will not encroach on the shore -- when hetraced the foundations of the earth,	29 When he compassed the sea with its bounds, and set a law to the waters that they should not pass their limits: when be balanced the foundations of the earth;
30 I was beside the master craftsman, delighting him day after day, ever at play in his presence,	30 I was with him forming all things: and was delighted every day, playing before him at all times;
31 at play everywhere on his earth, delighting to be with the children of men.	31 Playing in the world: and my delights were to be with the children of men.
32 'And now, my children, listen to me. Happy are those who keep my ways.	32 Now therefore, ye children, hear me: Blessed are they that keep my ways.
33 Listen to instruction and become wise, do not reject it.	33 Hear instruction and be wise, and refuse it not.
34 Blessed, whoever listens to me, who day after day keeps watch at my gates to guard my portals.	34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, and that watcheth daily at my gates, and waiteth at the posts of my doors.
35 For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains the favour of Yahweh;	35 He that shall find me, shall find life, and shall have salvation from the Lord:
36 but whoever misses me harms himself, al who hate me are in love with death.'	36 But he that shall sin against me, shall hurt his own soul. All that hate me love death.