Chapter 8

  Doth not wisdom cry aloud, and prudence put forth her voice ?  

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  Standing in the top of the highest places by the way, in the midst of the paths.  

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  Beside the gates of the city, in the very doors she speaketh, saying:  

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  O ye men, to you I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.  

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  O little ones, understand subtilty, and ye unwise, take notice.  

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  Hear, for I will speak of great things: and my lips shall be opened to preach right things.  

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  My mouth shall meditate truth, and my lips shall hate wickedness.  

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  All my words are just, there is nothing wicked nor perverse in them.  

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  They are right to them that understand, and just to them that find knowledge.  

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  Receive my instruction, and not money: choose knowledge rather than gold.  

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  11For wisdom is better than all the most precious things: and whatsoever may be desired cannot be compared to  

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  I wisdom dwell in counsel, and am present in learned thoughts.  

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  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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  Counsel and equity is mine, prudence is mine, strength is mine.  

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  By me kings reign, and lawgivers decree just things,  

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  By me princes rule, and the mighty decree justice.  

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  I love them that love me: and they that in the morning early watch for me, shall find me.  

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  With me are riches and glory, glorious riches and justice.  

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  For my fruit is better than gold and the precious stone, and my blossoms than choice silver.  

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  I walk in the way of justice, in the midst of the paths of judgment,  

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  That I may enrich them that love me, and may fill their treasures.  

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  The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his ways, before he made any thing from the beginning.  

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  I was set up from eternity, and of old before the earth was made.  

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  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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  The mountains with their huge bulk had not as yet been established: before the hills I was brought forth:  

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  He had not yet made the earth, nor the rivers, nor the poles of the world.  

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  When he prepared the heavens, I was present: when with a certain law and compass he enclosed the depths:  

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  When he established the sky above, and poised the fountains of waters:  

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  When he compassed the sea with its bounds, and set a law to the waters that they should not pass their limits: when be balanced the foundations of the earth;  

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  I was with him forming all things: and was delighted every day, playing before him at all times;  

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  Playing in the world: and my delights were to be with the children of men.  

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  Now therefore, ye children, hear me: Blessed are they that keep my ways.  

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  Hear instruction and be wise, and refuse it not.  

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  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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  He that shall find me, shall find life, and shall have salvation from the Lord:  

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  But he that shall sin against me, shall hurt his own soul. All that hate me love death.  

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