Wisdom - A Matter of Life and Death

Proverbs 8: 22 - 36;  

The Lord formed and brought me [Wisdom] forth at the beginning of His way, before His acts of old.

I [Wisdom] was inaugurated and obtained from everlasting, from the beginning, before the earth existed. When there were no deeps, I was brought forth, when there were no fountains laden with water.  Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth.  While as yet He had not made the land or the fields or the first of the dust of the earth.

When He prepared the heavens, I [Wisdom] was there; when He drew a circle upon the face of the deep and stretched out the firmament over it, When he made firm the skies above, when He established the fountains of the deep, When He gave to the sea its limit and His decree that the waters should not transgress [across the boundaries set by] His command, when he appointed the foundations of the earth - Then I [Wisdom] was beside Him, as a master and director of the work; and I was daily His delight, rejoicing before Him always, Rejoicing in His inhabited earth and delighting in the sons of men.

Now therefore listen to me, O you sons of men; for blessed [happy, fortunate and to be envied] are those who keep my ways.  

Hear my instruction and by wise, and do not refuse of neglect it.

Blessed [happy, fortunate and to be envied] is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.  For whoever find me [Wisdom] finds life and draws forth and obtains favour from the Lord.

But he who misses me or sins against me wrongs and injures himself; all who hate me love and court death.