Proverbs 8

NEW JERUSALEM	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 Is not Wisdom cal ing? Is not Understanding raising her voice?	1 Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
2 On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossways, she takes her stand;	2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
3 by the gates, at the entrance to the city, on the access-roads, she cries out,	3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
4 'I am cal ing to you, al people, my words are addressed to al humanity.	4 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
5 Simpletons, learn how to behave, fools, come to your senses.	5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
6 Listen, I have something important to tel you, when I speak, my words are right.	6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
7 My mouth proclaims the truth, for evil is abhorrent to my lips.	7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 Al the words from my mouth are upright, nothing false there, nothing crooked,	8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.
9 everything plain, if you can understand, straight, if you have acquired knowledge.	9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right 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 silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 For Wisdom is more precious than jewels, and nothing else is so worthy of desire.	11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
12 'I, Wisdom, share house with Discretion, I am mistress of the art of thought.	12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
13 (Fear of Yahweh means hatred of evil.) I hate pride and arrogance, wicked behaviour and a lyingmouth.	13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
14 To me belong good advice and prudence, I am perception: power is mine!	14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
15 By me monarchs rule and princes decree what is right;	15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16 by me rulers govern, so do nobles, the lawful authorities.	16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17 I love those who love me; whoever searches eagerly for me finds me.	17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
18 With me are riches and honour, lasting wealth and saving justice.	18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
19 The fruit I give is better than gold, even the finest, the return I make is better than pure silver.	19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of uprightness in the path of justice,	20 I lead in the way of righteousness, 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 cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will 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 way, before his works of old.
23 From everlasting, I was firmly set, from the beginning, before the earth came into being.	23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
24 The deep was not, when I was born, nor were the springs with their abounding waters.	24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hil s, I came to birth;	25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:
26 before he had made the earth, the countryside, and the first elements of the world.	26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust 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 there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
28 when he thickened the clouds above, when the sources of the deep began to swel ,	28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
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 gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
30 I was beside the master craftsman, delighting him day after day, ever at play in his presence,	30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
31 at play everywhere on his earth, delighting to be with the children of men.	31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
32 'And now, my children, listen to me. Happy are those who keep my ways.	32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for 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, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains the favour of Yahweh;	35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
36 but whoever misses me harms himself, al who hate me are in love with death.'	36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.