Proverbs 8

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Is not Wisdom cal ing? Is not Understanding raising her voice?	1 Does not wisdom call out, and prudence bestow her voice?
2 On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossways, she takes her stand;	2 At the summits and the tops of exalted places, standing above the ways, 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, at the very doors, she speaks, saying:
4 'I am cal ing to you, al people, my words are addressed to al humanity.	4 “O men, to you I call out, 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 discernment. And you who are unwise, turn your souls.
6 Listen, I have something important to tel you, when I speak, my words are right.	6 Listen, for I will speak about great things, and my lips will be opened, so as to foretell what is right.
7 My mouth proclaims the truth, for evil is abhorrent to my lips.	7 My throat shall practice truth, and my lips shall detest the impious.
8 Al the words from my mouth are upright, nothing false there, nothing crooked,	8 All my words are just. There is no depravity in them, and no perversity.
9 everything plain, if you can understand, straight, if you have acquired knowledge.	9 They are upright to those who understand, and equitable to those who discover knowledge.
10 Accept my discipline rather than silver, and knowledge of me in preference to finest gold.	10 Accept my discipline, and not money. Choose the doctrine that is greater than gold.
11 For Wisdom is more precious than jewels, and nothing else is so worthy of desire.	11 For wisdom is better than all that is most precious, and everything that is desirable cannot compare to her.
12 'I, Wisdom, share house with Discretion, I am mistress of the art of thought.	12 I, wisdom, dwell in counsel, and I am inside 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 hates evil. I detest 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 is mine, and equity. Prudence is mine. Strength is mine.
15 By me monarchs rule and princes decree what is right;	15 Through me, kings reign and legislators decree just conditions.
16 by me rulers govern, so do nobles, the lawful authorities.	16 Through me, princes rule and the powerful decree justice.
17 I love those who love me; whoever searches eagerly for me finds me.	17 I love those who love me. And those who stand watch for me until morning shall discover me.
18 With me are riches and honour, lasting wealth and saving justice.	18 With me, are wealth and glory, superb 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 precious stones, and my progeny better 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 so that I may enrich those who love me, and thus complete 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 anything, from the beginning.
23 From everlasting, I was firmly set, from the beginning, before the earth came into being.	23 I was ordained from eternity, and out of antiquity, before the earth was formed.
24 The deep was not, when I was born, nor were the springs with their abounding waters.	24 The abyss did not yet exist, and I was already conceived; neither had the fountains of waters yet erupted.
25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hil s, I came to birth;	25 The mountains, with their great mass, had not 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 Still he had not made the earth, and the rivers, and the poles of the globe of the earth.
27 When he fixed the heavens firm, I was there, when he drew a circle on the surface of the deep,	27 I was already present: when he prepared the heavens; when, with a certain law and a circuit, he fortified the abyss;
28 when he thickened the clouds above, when the sources of the deep began to swel ,	28 when he made firm the sky above, and set free 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 encompassed the sea within its limits, and laid down a law for the waters, lest they transgress their limits; when he weighed 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 in composing all things. And I was delighted, throughout every day, by playing in his sight at all times,
31 at play everywhere on his earth, delighting to be with the children of men.	31 playing in globe of the earth. And my delight was to be with the sons of men.
32 'And now, my children, listen to me. Happy are those who keep my ways.	32 Therefore, sons, hear me now. Blessed are those who preserve my ways.
33 Listen to instruction and become wise, do not reject it.	33 Listen to discipline, and become wise, and do not be willing to cast it aside.
34 Blessed, whoever listens to me, who day after day keeps watch at my gates to guard my portals.	34 Blessed is the man who listens to me, and who stands watch at my gates everyday, and who observes at the posts of my doors.
35 For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains the favour of Yahweh;	35 He who finds me, finds life, and he will draw salvation from the Lord.
36 but whoever misses me harms himself, al who hate me are in love with death.'	36 But he who sins against me will wound his own soul. All who hate me love death.”