Proverbs 8
1 Thou shalt proclaim wisdom, that understanding may be obedient to thee.
Isn't wisdom calling? Isn't understanding raising her voice?
2 For she is on lofty eminences, and stands in the midst of the ways.
On the top of the hill by the road, she stands up at the crossroads.
3 For she sits by the gates of princes, and sings in the entrances, [saying],
Beside the gates of the town, right there at the entrance, she cries out:
4 You, O men, I exhort; and utter my voice to the sons of men.
“I'm calling out to you, everyone! My call is to everyone in the whole world!
5 O ye simple, understand subtlety, and ye that are untaught, imbibe knowledge.
If you're immature, learn how to grow up. If you're stupid, learn what makes good sense.
6 Hearken to me; for I will speak solemn [truths]; and will produce right [sayings] from my lips.
Listen to me because I have valuable things to explain to you.
7 For my throat shall meditate truth; and false lips are an abomination before me.
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 in righteousness; there is nothing in them wrong or perverse.
All the words I say are true; none are false or misleading.
9 They are all evident to those that understand, and right to those that find knowledge.
My words are straightforward to anyone with understanding; they are correct to those who have knowledge.
10 Receive instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than tried gold.
Choose my instruction over silver; choose knowledge over pure gold.
11 For wisdom is better than precious stones; and no valuable substance is of equal worth with it.
For wisdom is more valuable than rubies; everything you could ever want just doesn't compare!
12 I wisdom have dwelt [with] counsel and knowledge, and I have called upon understanding.
I, wisdom, am at home with good decisions. I know how to find knowledge and discernment.
13 The fear of the Lord hates unrighteousness, and insolence, and pride, and the ways of wicked men; and I hate the perverse ways of bad men.
Honoring the Lord means hating evil. So I hate pride and arrogance, wicked behavior and telling lies.
14 Counsel and safety are mine; prudence is mine, and strength is mine.
I have advice and good judgment; I know what makes sense, and I have power.
15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
It's because of me that kings reign, and rulers issue fair decrees.
16 By me nobles become great, and monarchs by me rule over the earth.
It's because of me that leaders and nobles govern—all who rule justly.
17 I love those that love me; and they that seek me shall find [me].
I love those who love me, and those who really look for me will find me.
18 Wealth and glory belong to me; yea, abundant possessions and righteousness.
With me go riches and honor, lasting wealth and prosperity.
19 [It is] better to have my fruit than [to have] gold and precious stones; and my produce is better than 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 ways of righteousness, and [am] conversant with the paths of judgment;
I live in a way that's right; I follow the paths of justice.
21 that I may divide substance to them that love me, and may fill their treasures with good things. If I declare to you the things that daily happen, I will remember [also] to recount the things of old.
I grant wealth to those who love me; I fill their treasure storehouses.
22 The Lord made me the beginning of his ways for his works.
The Lord created me first of all; I was made before anything else.
23 He established me before time [was] in the beginning, before he made the earth:
I was formed a long time ago, at the first, before the world began.
24 even before he made the depths; before the fountains of water came forth:
I was born when there were no ocean depths, when there were no springs pouring out water.
25 before the mountains were settled, and before all hills, he begets me.
I was born before the mountains or the hills had been formed,
26 The Lord made countries and uninhabited [tracks], and the highest inhabited parts of the world.
when he hadn't made the earth and its fields or any of the earth's dust.
27 When he prepared the heaven, I was present with him; and when he prepared his throne upon the winds:
I was there when he placed the heavens in position, when he drew the horizon over the ocean,
28 and when he strengthened the clouds above; and when he secured the fountains of the earth:
when he made the clouds in the sky above, when he created the springs of the oceans,
29 decree. and when he strengthened 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 I was by him, suiting [myself to him], I was that wherein he took delight; and daily I rejoiced in his presence continually.
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 For he rejoiced when he had completed the world, and rejoiced among the children of men.
I was so happy in the world he created, celebrating together with human beings.
32 Now then, [my] son, hear me: blessed is the man who shall hearken to me, and the mortal who shall keep my ways;
And now, my sons, listen to me, for happy are those who follow my ways.
33 [Hear wisdom and be wise, and ] [be not strangers to it. ]
Listen to my instruction and be wise—do not reject it.
34 watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my entrances.
Happy are those who listen to me, watching for me every day at my doors, waiting at my entrance way.
35 For my outgoings are the outgoings of life, and [in them] is prepared favour from the Lord.
For those who find me, find life, and are accepted by the Lord.
36 But they that sin against me act wickedly against their own souls: and they that hate me love death.
But those who don't find me hurt themselves; everyone who hates me loves death.”
