Proverbs 8
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1 Doth not wisdom cry aloud, and prudence put forth her voice?
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2 Standing in the top of the highest places by the way, in the midst of the paths,
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3 Beside the gates of the city, in the very doors she speaketh, saying:
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4 O ye men, to you I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.
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5 O little ones understand subtlety, and ye unwise, take notice.
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6 Hear, for I will speak of great things: and my lips shall be opened to preach right things.
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7 My mouth shall meditate truth, and my lips shall hate wickedness.
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8 All my words are just, there is nothing wicked, nor perverse in them.
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9 They are right to them that understand, and just to them that find knowledge.
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10 Receive my instruction, and not money: choose knowledge rather than gold.
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11 For wisdom is better than all the most precious things: and whatsoever may be desired cannot be compared to it.
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12 I, wisdom, dwell in counsel, and am present in learned thoughts.
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13 The fear of the Lord hateth evil; I hate arrogance, and pride, and every wicked way, and a mouth with a double tongue.
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14 Counsel and equity is mine, prudence is mine, strength is mine.
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15 By me kings reign, and lawgivers decree just things.
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16 By me princes rule, and the mighty decree justice.
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17 I love them that love me: and they that in the morning early watch for me, shall find me.
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18 With me are riches and glory, glorious riches and justice.
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19 For my fruit is better than gold and the precious stone, and my blossoms than choice silver.
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20 I walk in the way of justice, in the midst of the paths of judgment,
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21 That I may enrich them that love me, and may fill their treasures.
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22 The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his ways, before he made any thing from the beginning.
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23 I was set up from eternity, and of old, before the earth was made.
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24 The depths were not as yet, and I was already conceived, neither had the fountains of waters as yet sprung out.
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25 The mountains, with their huge bulk, had not as yet been established: before the hills, I was brought forth:
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26 He had not yet made the earth, nor the rivers, nor the poles of the world.
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27 When he prepared the heavens, I was present: when with a certain law, and compass, he enclosed the depths:
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28 When he established the sky above, and poised the fountains of waters:
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29 When he compassed the sea with its bounds, and set a law to the waters that they should not pass their limits: when he balanced the foundations of the earth;
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30 I was with him forming all things: and was delighted every day, playing before him at all times;
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31 Playing in the world: and my delights were to be with the children of men.
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32 Now, therefore, ye children, hear me: blessed are they that keep my ways.
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33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
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34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, and that watcheth daily at my gates, and waiteth at the posts of my doors.
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35 He that shall find me, shall find life, and shall have salvation from the Lord.
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36 But he that shall sin against me shall hurt his own soul. All that hate me love death.