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8:1  Isn’t Lady Wisdom calling? Listen; don’t you hear the voice of understanding crying out?
8:2  She’s taken her stand at the highest place in the city, at the crossroads where everyone can see her.
8:3  There, and at the gates, at the entrance to the city, right in front of the city doors she cries out:
8:4  Lady Wisdom: O people! I am calling to you; I have a message for all humanity.
8:5  You gullible people, acquire insight. You naive ones, cultivate a heart that truly understands.
8:6  Listen, for I am about to tell you of unparalleled excellence and beauty; what I am about to say will set things right.
8:7  I will only speak the truth; I despise evil, so it will not pass through my lips.
8:8  Everything I say promotes justice; not one word is crooked, and nothing is distorted.
8:9  Each and every word is straight talk to perceptive people, upright and honest to knowledge-seekers.
8:10  Accept my correction as being more valuable than your prized possession, authentic knowledge more valuable than pure gold.
8:11  You see, no gem is more precious than Lady Wisdom— your most extravagant desire doesn’t come close to her.
8:12  Lady Wisdom: I make my home with prudence; I obtain knowledge and sound judgment.
8:13  If you respect the Eternal, you will grow to despise evil. I despise wretched, vile talk and ways of pride and arrogance.
8:14  Good counsel is mine, and also true wisdom. I am understanding, and strength belongs to me.
8:15  It’s because of me that kings wield power and authorities decree what is right.
8:16  It’s because of me that leaders and their agents govern and all judge according to what is right.
8:17  I love those who love me; those who search hard for me will find me.
8:18  Riches and honor are the benefit of following me; so are lasting wealth and justice.
8:19  My reward is better than gold, even the purest gold; and my profit is greater than the highest quality silver.
8:20  I follow the way of right living. Follow me along the path to find justice;
8:21  I’m ready to meet those who love me, bestow true riches upon them, and fill up their lives until their treasuries overflow.
8:22  The Eternal created me; it happened when His work was beginning, one of His first acts long ago.
8:23  Before time He established me, before the earth saw its first sunrise.
8:24  I was born before the deep existed, before any springs poured out their water,
8:25  Before the mountains were placed on their foundations, before the hills rolled across the land— yes, before all this, I was brought forth.
8:26  When the earth was yet unformed and the fields were not yet nestled beneath the wind— even before the first dust of the earth—
8:27  When He created the heavens, I was there. When He drew a circle in the deep, dividing the oceans and the sky, I was there.
8:28  I was there when He established the sky. I was there when the springs in the deep were fortified;
8:29  I witnessed Him lay down the shore as a boundary and put limits on the water And determine the foundations of the earth.
8:30  All this time I was close beside Him, a master craftsman. Every day I was His delightful companion, celebrating every minute in His presence,
8:31  Elated by the world He was making and all its fine creatures; I was especially pleased with humanity.
8:32  So now listen to me, my children: those who live by my ways will find true happiness.
8:33  Pay attention to my guidance, dare to be wise, and don’t disregard my teachings.
8:34  The one who listens to me, who carefully seeks me in everyday things and delays action until my way is apparent, that one will find true happiness.
8:35  For when he recognizes and follows me, he finds a peaceful and satisfying life and receives favor from the Eternal.
8:36  But heed my warning: the one who goes against me will only hurt himself, for all who despise me are playing with fire and courting death.