THE
PROVERBS
Proverbs 8 ©
The eternal, essential Wisdom of the Father (the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ) is here brought in, preaching to all sorts of people, openly and plainly, verse 1. Of Her doctrine, 6. Excellence, 10. Nature, 12. Sovereign power and dominion, 15. With an account of the blessedness of those who embrace Her, 17. Also of Her eternal Godhead, incomprehensible generation of the Father, and union with Him, 22. Of Her saving office and familiar revelation to the children of men, 31. Exhorting to obedience, with a promise of salvation, and warning for disobedience, upon pain of everlasting destruction, 32.
DOTH not wisdoma1cry? and understanding 2put forth her voice?
She standeth in the 3top of high places, 4by the way 5in the places of the paths.
6She crieth 7at the gates, 8at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
Unto you, O 9men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
O ye 10simple, understand 11wisdom: and, ye 12fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
Hear; for I will speak of 13excellent things; and 14the opening of my lips shall be right things.
For my 15mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is 16an abomination to my lips.
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing 17froward or perverse in them.
They are all 18plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that 19find knowledge.
Receive my instruction, and 20not silver; and knowledge rather than 21choice gold.
Forb wisdom is better than 22rubies; and 23all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
24I wisdom dwell with 25prudence, and find out knowledge of wittyc26inventions.
27The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the 28evil way, and the 29froward mouth, do I hate.
Counsel is mine, and 30sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
By me kings reign, and princes 31decree 32justice.
By me princes rule, and 33nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
I love them that love me; and those that seek me 34early shall 35find me.
Richesd and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
Mye36fruit is better than 37gold, yea, than 38fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
I lead in the 39way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
That I may cause those that love me to inherit 40substance; and I will fill their treasures.
41The LORD 42possessed 43me in the beginning of 44his way, 45before his works 46of old.
I was 47set up from everlasting, from the beginning,f or 48ever the earth was.
When there were no depths, I was 49brought forth; when there were no fountains 50abounding with water.
Before the mountains were 51settled, before the hills was I brought forth:
While as yet 52he had 53not made the earth, nor the 54fields, nor the 55highest part of the dust of the world.
When he prepared the heavens, I was there: wheng he set 56a compass 57upon the face of the depth:
When he 58established the clouds above: when he 59strengthened the fountainsh of the deep:
When he gave to the sea his 60decree, that the waters should not pass hisi61commandment: when he 62appointed the foundations of the earth:
Then I was by him, as 63one brought up with him: and I was 64daily his 65delight, rejoicing alwaysj before him;
66Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were 67with the sons of men.
Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: fork blessed are they that keep 68my ways.
Hear instruction, and be wise, and 69refuse it not.
Blessed is the man that heareth me, 70watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
For whoso findeth me findeth life, andl shall 71obtain favour of the LORD.
But he that sinneth against me 72wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate 73me 74love death.