Proverbs 8

Does not wisdom cry out?

Does not understanding raise her voice?

²On the top of high places by the way,

Where the paths meet, she stands.

³Beside the gates, at the entry of the city,

At the entry doors, she cries aloud:

⁴"To you men, I call!

I send my voice to the sons of mankind.

⁵You simple, understand prudence.

You fools, be of an understanding heart.

⁶Hear, for I will speak excellent things.

The opening of my lips is for right things.

⁷For my mouth speaks truth.

Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

⁸All the words of my mouth are in righteousness.

There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.

⁹They are all plain to him who understands,

Right to those who find knowledge.

¹⁰Receive my instruction rather than silver;

Knowledge rather than choice gold.

¹¹For wisdom is better than rubies.

All the things that may be desired cannot be compared to it.

¹²"I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling.

Find out knowledge and discretion.

¹³The fear of Allah is to hate evil.

I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.

¹⁴Counsel and sound knowledge are mine.

I have understanding and power.

¹⁵By me kings reign,

And princes decree justice.

¹⁶By me princes rule;

Nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth.

¹⁷I love those who love me.

Those who seek me diligently will find me.

¹⁸With me are riches, honour,

Enduring wealth, and prosperity.

¹⁹My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold;

My yield than choice silver.

²⁰I walk in the way of righteousness,

In the midst of the paths of justice;

²¹That I may give wealth to those who love me.

I fill their treasuries.

²²"Allah possessed me in the beginning of his work,

Before his deeds of old.

²³I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning,

Before the earth existed.

²⁴When there were no depths, I was brought forth,

When there were no springs abounding with water.

²⁵Before the mountains were settled in place,

Before the hills, I was brought forth;

²⁶While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields,

Nor the beginning of the dust of the world.

²⁷When he established the heavens, I was there;

When he set a circle on the surface of the deep,

²⁸When he established the clouds above,

When the springs of the deep became strong,

²⁹When he gave to the sea its boundary,

That the waters should not violate his commandment,

When he marked out the foundations of the earth;

³⁰Then I was the craftsman by his side.

I was a delight day by day,

Always rejoicing before him,

³¹Rejoicing in his whole world.

My delight was with the sons of men.

³²"Now therefore, my sons, listen to me,

For blessed are those who keep my ways.

³³Hear instruction, and be wise.

Do not refuse it.

³⁴Blessed is the man who hears me,

Watching daily at my gates,

Waiting at my door posts.

³⁵For whoever finds me, finds life,

And will obtain favour from Allah.

³⁶But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul.

All those who hate me love death."