Proverbs 8:1-21 - Wisdom Calls

¹ Doesn’t Wisdom call out?
Doesn’t Understanding make her voice heard?
² At the heights overlooking the road,
at the crossroads, she takes her stand.
³ Beside the gates at the entry to the city,
at the main entrance, she cries out:
⁴ “People, I call out to you;
my cry is to mankind.
⁵ Learn to be shrewd, you who are inexperienced;
develop common sense, you who are foolish.
⁶ Listen, for I speak of noble things,
and what my lips say is right.
⁷ For my mouth tells the truth,
and wickedness is detestable to my lips.
⁸ All the words of my mouth are righteous;
none of them are deceptive or perverse.
⁹ All of them are clear to the perceptive,
and right to those who discover knowledge.
¹⁰ Accept my instruction instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than pure gold.
¹¹ For wisdom is better than jewels,
and nothing desirable can compare with it.
¹² I, Wisdom, share a home with shrewdness
and have knowledge and discretion.
¹³ To fear the Lord is to hate evil.
I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct,
and perverse speech.
¹⁴ I possess good advice and competence;
I have understanding and strength.
¹⁵ It is by me that kings reign
and rulers enact just law;
¹⁶ by me, princes lead,
as do nobles and all righteous judges.
¹⁷ I love those who love me,
and those who search for me find me.
¹⁸ With me are riches and honor,
lasting wealth and righteousness.
¹⁹ My fruit is better than solid gold,
and my harvest than pure silver.
²⁰ I walk in the way of righteousness,
along the paths of justice,
²¹ giving wealth as an inheritance to those who love me,
and filling their treasuries.