Moff PROV Chapter 8

8 

Is it not Wisdom calling,

Knowledge raising her O voice?

2 

On the high ground by the roadside,

in the streets she takes her stand,

3 

by the gateways opening to the city,

at the entries, she is crying out:

4 

“O men, I am calling to you,

my appeal is to all men!

5 

O heedless souls, learn in- sight,

O foolish folk, learn sense!

6 

Listen, for I have a weighty message,

my lips open with right words,

7 

I utter what is true,

false lips I loathe,

8 

all I say is honest,

with nothing in it false or wrong;

9 

’tis all plain to a man of sense,

and true for those who are intelligent.

10 

Choose instruction rather than silver,

and knowledge rather than rare gold;

11 

for wisdom is better than rubies,

no treasure is equal to her.

12 

I Wisdom have intelligence in hand,

knowledge and insight I command

13 

[[to reverence the Eternal is to hate evil:

pride, arrogance, an evil life,

and lying lips--I hate them]],

14 

counsel and skill are mine,

I possess mind and might.

15 

It is by me that monarchs reign,

and rulers deal out justice,

16 

by me that great men govern,

and magnates rule the earth.

17 

Those who love me, I love them;

those who seek me find me.

18 

I hold wealth and honour,

position and good fortune;

19 

what I yield is better than the best of gold,

what I bring in is better than rare silver.

20 

I deal right fairly,

justly do I act,

21 

enriching those who love me,

and filling their stores full.

22 

The Eternal formed me first of his creation,

first of all his works in days of old;

23 

I was fashioned in the earliest ages,

from the very first, when earth began;

24 

I was born when there were no abysses,

when there were no fountains full of water;

25 

ere he sunk the bases of the mountains,

ere the hills existed, I was born,

26 

when earth and fields were not created,

nor the very first clods of the world.

27 

When he set the heavens up, I was there,

when he drew the Vault o’er the abyss,

28 

when he made the clouds firm overhead,

when he fixed the fountains of the deep,

29 

when he set the boundaries of the sea,

when he laid foundations for the earth;

30 

I was with him then, his foster-child,

I was his delight day after day,

playing in his presence constantly,

31 

playing here and there over his world,

finding my delight in human-kind.

32 

Now listen to me, children,

33 

listen to instruction and get wisdom,

do not refuse my counsel.

32 

For happy are they who hold to me,

34 

happy the man who listens to me,

daily at my gate on the watch,

waiting at my doorway.

35 

He who finds me finds life,

and he wins favour from the Eternal;

36 

he who ignores me is injuring himself,

for all who hate me are in love with death.”