Proverbs 8
1 Does not wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice?
Isn't wisdom calling? Isn't understanding raising her voice?
2 On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads she takes her stand.
On the top of the hill by the road, she stands up at the crossroads.
3 Beside the gates to the city, at the entrances she cries out:
Beside the gates of the town, right there at the entrance, she cries out:
4 “To you, O men, I call out, and my cry is to the sons of men.
“I'm calling out to you, everyone! My call is to everyone in the whole world!
5 O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding.
If you're immature, learn how to grow up. If you're stupid, learn what makes good sense.
6 Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right.
Listen to me because I have valuable things to explain to you.
7 For my mouth will speak the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips.
I say what's right, because I tell the truth and I hate wickedness in all its forms.
8 All the words of my mouth are righteous; none are crooked or perverse.
All the words I say are true; none are false or misleading.
9 They are all plain to the discerning, and upright to those who find knowledge.
My words are straightforward to anyone with understanding; they are correct to those who have knowledge.
10 Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.
Choose my instruction over silver; choose knowledge over pure gold.
11 For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her.
For wisdom is more valuable than rubies; everything you could ever want just doesn't compare!
12 I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.
I, wisdom, am at home with good decisions. I know how to find knowledge and discernment.
13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.
Honoring the Lord means hating evil. So I hate pride and arrogance, wicked behavior and telling lies.
14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength.
I have advice and good judgment; I know what makes sense, and I have power.
15 By me kings reign, and rulers enact just laws;
It's because of me that kings reign, and rulers issue fair decrees.
16 By me princes rule, and all nobles who govern justly.
It's because of me that leaders and nobles govern—all who rule justly.
17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.
I love those who love me, and those who really look for me will find me.
18 With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and righteousness.
With me go riches and honor, lasting wealth and prosperity.
19 My fruit is better than gold, pure gold, and my harvest surpasses choice silver.
The fruit I produce is better than gold, even pure gold, and my harvest is better than even the best silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
I live in a way that's right; I follow the paths of justice.
21 bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.
I grant wealth to those who love me; I fill their treasure storehouses.
22 The LORD created me as His first course, before His works of old.
The Lord created me first of all; I was made before anything else.
23 From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began.
I was formed a long time ago, at the first, before the world began.
24 When there were no watery depths, I was brought forth, when no springs were overflowing with water.
I was born when there were no ocean depths, when there were no springs pouring out water.
25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth,
I was born before the mountains or the hills had been formed,
26 before He made the land or fields, or any of the dust of the earth.
when he hadn't made the earth and its fields or any of the earth's dust.
27 I was there when He established the heavens, when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,
I was there when he placed the heavens in position, when he drew the horizon over the ocean,
28 when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth,
when he made the clouds in the sky above, when he created the springs of the oceans,
29 when He set a boundary for the sea, so that the waters would not surpass His command, when He marked out the foundations of the earth.
when he set limits on the sea so that the waters would not go farther than he ordered, and when he laid out the foundations of the earth.
30 Then I was a skilled craftsman at His side, and His delight day by day, rejoicing always in His presence.
Then I was beside him as a master craftsman. I made him happy every day, and I was always full of joy in his presence.
31 I was rejoicing in His whole world, delighting together in the sons of men.
I was so happy in the world he created, celebrating together with human beings.
32 Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
And now, my sons, listen to me, for happy are those who follow my ways.
33 Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.
Listen to my instruction and be wise—do not reject it.
34 Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway.
Happy are those who listen to me, watching for me every day at my doors, waiting at my entrance way.
35 For whoever finds me finds life and obtains the favor of the LORD.
For those who find me, find life, and are accepted by the Lord.
36 But he who fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.”
But those who don't find me hurt themselves; everyone who hates me loves death.”
