Chapter 8

Wisdom is preached in conspicuous and most frequented places, that none may pretend want of admonition, ℣.7 her doctrine is true, godly, profitable, & necessary to all sorts of men. ℣.12 Wisdom (increated which is God himself) is eternal, ℣.32 and bringeth eternal happiness.

1. 1

   Doth not wisdom cry, and prudence give her voice? tops over the way, in the midst of the

2. 2

   Standing in the high & lofty paths,

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

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   O men, to you I cry, and my voice is to the children of men.

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   O little ones understand subtilty, and ye unwise, mark.

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

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   My throat shall meditate truth, and my lips shall detest the impious.

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   All my words are just, there is no wicked, nor perverse thing 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 ye discipline, & not money: choose doctrine rather than gold.

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    For wisdom is better than all most precious riches: and whatsoever is to be desired can not be compared to it.

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

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    The fear of our Lord hateth evil: arrogancy, and pride, and wicked way, and a double tongued mouth I do detest.

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    Mine is counsel & equity, prudence is mine, strength is mine.

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    By me kings do reign, and the makers of laws 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 watch toward 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 precious stone, and my blossoms than chosen silver.

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

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

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

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    From eternity I was ordained & of old before the earth was made.

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    The depths were not as yet, and I was now conceived, neither had the fountains of waters as yet gushed forth:

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    the mountains with heavy hugeness stood not as yet: before the little hills I was brought forth:

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    he had not yet made the earth, and the rivers, and the poles of the round world.

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

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    When he established the firmament above, & poised the fountains of water:

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    when he compassed the sea with her limits, and set a law to the waters that they should not pass their bounds: when he hanged the foundations of the earth,

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    I was with him framing all things: and was delighted every day, playing before him at all time,

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    playing in the world: & my delights to be with the children of men.

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

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    Hear ye discipline, and be wise, and reject it not.

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    Blessed is the man that heareth me, & that watcheth at my doors daily, & waiteth at the posts of my door.

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    He that shall find me shall find life, and shall draw salvation of our Lord:

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