# Proverbs 8 
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1. Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice? 
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2. On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; 
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3. beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud: 
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4. “To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man. 
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5. O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense. 
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6. Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right, 
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7. for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 
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8. All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them. 
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9. They are all straight to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge. 
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10. Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, 
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11. for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her. 
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12. “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. 
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13. The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. 
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14. I have counsel and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have strength. 
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15. By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just; 
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16. by me princes rule, and nobles, all who govern justly. 
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17. I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me. 
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18. Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness. 
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19. My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver. 
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20. I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice, 
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21. granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries. 
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22. “The LORD possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. 
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23. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. 
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24. When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. 
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25. Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth, 
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26. before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world. 
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27. When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, 
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28. when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, 
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29. when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, 
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30. then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, 
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31. rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man. 
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32. “And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways. 
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33. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. 
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34. Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. 
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35. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD, 
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36. but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.” 

(ESV)