For the past week Terri and I have been studying Proverbs. I found the passage that we read last night, Proverbs 8, to be really beautiful and inspiring so I decided to share it this morning.
From the NIV translation:
- Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?
- 2
- On the heights along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
- 3
- beside the gates leading into the city, at the entrances, she cries aloud:
- 4
- "To you, O men, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind.
- 5
- You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, gain understanding.
- 6
- Listen, for I have worthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right.
- 7
- My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness.
- 8
- All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse.
- 9
- To the discerning all of them are right; they are faultless to those who have knowledge.
- 10
- Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold,
- 11
- for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.
- 12
- "I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion.
- 13
- To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
- 14
- Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have understanding and power.
- 15
- By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just;
- 16
- by me princes govern, and all nobles who rule on earth. [1]
- 17
- I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.
- 18
- With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.
- 19
- My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver.
- 20
- I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
- 21
- bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.
- 22
- "The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, [2] [3] before his deeds of old;
- 23
- I was appointed [4] from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began.
- 24
- When there were no oceans, I was given birth, when there were no springs abounding with water;
- 25
- before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth,
- 26
- before he made the earth or its fields or any of the dust of the world.
- 27
- I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,
- 28
- when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,
- 29
- when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.
- 30
- Then I was the craftsman at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence,
- 31
- rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind.
- 32
- "Now then, my sons, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.
- 33
- Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.
- 34
- Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.
- 35
- For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD.
- 36
- But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death."
- [16] Many Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts and nobles--all righteous rulers
- [22] Or way; or dominion
- [22] Or The LORD possessed me at the beginning of his work; or The LORD brought me forth at the beginning of his work
- [23] Or fashioned
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