Proverbs 8

1 Does not wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice?

It is as if wisdom, with great understanding [of many things], is calling [PRS] out [to people].

2 On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads she takes her stand.

Wisdom stands on hilltops and at crossroads.

3 Beside the gates to the city, at the entrances she cries out:

[Wisdom also stands] at the city gates and shouts loudly,

4 “To you, O men, I call out, and my cry is to the sons of men.

“I am calling to everyone! I am shouting loudly to all people!

5 O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding.

You people who do not know how to do things that are smart to do, get sound judgment; you foolish people, get good understanding!

6 Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right.

Listen to me, because I have some excellent/important things to say. What I say is what is fair/right.

7 For my mouth will speak the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips.

I speak what is true; I detest speaking [MTY] what is false/deceptive.

8 All the words of my mouth are righteous; none are crooked or perverse.

Everything that I say is honest; there is nothing that I say that deceives [people].

9 They are all plain to the discerning, and upright to those who find knowledge.

My words are clear to those who have good sense; those who are wise know that what I say is right.

10 Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.

[If someone offers you the kind of teaching I give] or offers you silver, choose my teaching. [If he offers to show you how to be wise] or offers you gold, choose to know how to be wise,

11 For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her.

because wisdom is more valuable than jewels. Nothing that you desire [is as valuable] as being wise.

12 I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.

I, wisdom, and understanding of what is smart to do, cannot be separated. We are like two people who live in the same house. I know how to be wise and how to make smart decisions.

13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.

[All the people] who revere Yahweh hate evil. I, wisdom, hate [people who are] proud and [people] who think they are more important [than others]. I hate [people who] behave in an evil way and those who say things to deceive [others].

14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength.

I give [people] good advice and I enable them to do things that are wise. I understand how things really are, and I am strong.

15 By me kings reign, and rulers enact just laws;

When kings are wise, they rule [well]; and when rulers are wise, they make laws that are just/fair.

16 By me princes rule, and all nobles who govern justly.

Rulers govern their people with the help of me, wisdom, and those who have authority decide things fairly/just with my help.

17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.

I, [wisdom], love [all] those who love me, and [all] those who truly seek me [will] find me.

18 With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and righteousness.

I enable [people] to become rich and to be honored; [I enable them to have] wealth that will last and to be successful.

19 My fruit is better than gold, pure gold, and my harvest surpasses choice silver.

What I can give people is more valuable than fine/pure gold and the best silver.

20 I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,

I always do what is righteous and just/fair.

21 bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.

I give wealth to those who love me; I fill their houses with valuable things.

22 The LORD created me as His first course, before His works of old.

Yahweh created me, [wisdom], when he began [to create the world]; he created me [to do my work] before he created anything else.

23 From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began.

He appointed me long ago, before he created the earth.

24 When there were no watery depths, I was brought forth, when no springs were overflowing with water.

I was born before the oceans were [created], when there were no springs from which water flowed.

25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth,

I was born before the hills and mountains were formed;

26 before He made the land or fields, or any of the dust of the earth.

[I, wisdom], was born before Yahweh made the earth, before he made the fields and the soil on the earth.

27 I was there when He established the heavens, when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,

I was there when Yahweh put the sky in place, when he marked the place [in the distance] where the sky and the oceans [seem to] come together.

28 when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth,

I was there when Yahweh put the clouds above [the earth] and when he caused the water that is inside the earth to be secure.

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.

I was there when he fixed a boundary for the seas, so that the water in the seas would not go past those boundaries, and when he put down the foundations which support the earth.

30 Then I was a skilled craftsman at His side, and His delight day by day, rejoicing always in His presence.

I was at the side of Yahweh, the master worker (OR, as though I was his child). I caused him to be happy every day, and I was always rejoicing when I was with him.

31 I was rejoicing in His whole world, delighting together in the sons of men.

I was delighted with the world that he created; I was happy with the people whom he created, too.

32 Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.

So, [you people who are like] my sons, listen to me. [I am] pleased with [all] those who obey my teachings.

33 Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.

Listen [carefully] to what I teach you and become wise. Do not reject my teaching!

34 Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway.

[I am] pleased with those who listen to me, those who are outside my house every day, waiting [for me to come out].

35 For whoever finds me finds life and obtains the favor of the LORD.

Those who find me will have [a long] life, and Yahweh [will] be pleased with them.

36 But he who fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.”

But those who stray away from me [just] harm themselves. All those who hate me, [it is as though] [IRO] they are loving death.”