8:1
Doth not wisdom call, and understanding put forth her voice?

8:2
In the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she standeth;

8:3
Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud:

8:4
'Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.

8:5
O ye thoughtless, understand prudence, and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

8:6
Hear, for I will speak excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

8:7
For my mouth shall utter truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

8:8
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness, there is nothing perverse or crooked in them.

8:9
They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

8:10
Receive my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold.

8:11
For wisdom is better than rubies, and all things desirable are not to be compared unto her.

8:12
I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of devices.

8:13
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

8:14
Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine.

8:15
By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.

8:16
By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

8:17
I love them that love me, and those that seek me earnestly shall find me.

8:18
Riches and honour are with me; yea, enduring riches and righteousness.

8:19
My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my produce than choice silver.

8:20
I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice;

8:21
That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, and that I may fill their treasuries.

8:22
the Lord made me as the beginning of His way, the first of His works of old.

8:23
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

8:24
When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.

8:25
Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth;

8:26
While as yet He had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.

8:27
When He established the heavens, I was there; when He set a circle upon the face of the deep,

8:28
When He made firm the skies above, when the fountains of the deep showed their might,

8:29
When He gave to the sea His decree, that the waters should not transgress His commandment, when He appointed the foundations of the earth;

8:30
Then I was by Him, as a nursling; and I was daily all delight, playing always before Him,

8:31
Playing in His habitable earth, and my delights are with the sons of men.

8:32
Now therefore, ye children, hearken unto me; for happy are they that keep my ways.

8:33
Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

8:34
Happy is the man that hearkeneth to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

8:35
For whoso findeth me findeth life, and obtaineth favour of the Lord.

8:36
But he that misseth me wrongeth his own soul; all they that hate me love death.'