LEB PRO Chapter 8

Wisdom Calls

• and understanding raise its voice?
• 2 [fn] beside the road, at the crossroads she stands.
• 3  at the entrance of doors, she cries out:
• 4 [fn] I call, and my cry is to the children of humankind.
• 5  fools, learn[fn]
• 6  and upright things from the opening of my lips.
• 7  and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
• 8 are in righteousness; none of them are twisted and crooked.
• 9  and upright to those who find knowledge.
• 10  may you choose knowledge rather than choice gold.
• 11  and all desires shall not compare with her.
• 12  and I find knowledge and discretion.
• 13 is hatred of evil, pride, and arrogance and an evil way.
• And I hate a mouth of perversity.
• 14 [fn] are mine; I am understanding,[fn]
• 15  and rulers decree righteousness.
• 16  and nobles—all judges of righteousness.
• 17 [fn] and those who seek me diligently shall find me.
• 18 are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness.
• 19 [fn] even refined gold, and my yield than choice silver.
• 20  in the midst of paths of justice,
• 21 in order to endow those who love me with wealth, and I will fill their treasuries.

Wisdom at Creation

• 22 [fn] me, the first of his ways, before his acts[fn]
• 23 the first, from the beginning[fn] of the earth.
• 24  when there were no springs of[fn] water.
• 25  before hills, I was brought forth.
• 26  or the first dust of the world,
• 27 [fn] the heavens, there I was,[fn] a circle upon the face of the deep,
• 28 [fn] skies from above, when he founded fountains of the deep,
• 29 [fn] his limits to the sea, that waters shall not transgress his[fn]
• [fn] the foundations of the earth,
• 30 [fn] him, a master workman, and I was delighting day by day,
• rejoicing before him[fn]
• 31  and my delight was with the children of humankind.

Benefits of Following Wisdom

• 32 happy are those who will keep my ways.
• 33  do not neglect it.
• 34 is the person who listens to me, in order to keep watch at my doors day by day,
• in order to guard the frames of my entrances.
• 35 is he who finds[fn] life, and he obtains favor from Yahweh.
• 36 [fn] All those who hate me love death.”