Proverbs 8

1 You shall proclaim wisdom, that understanding may be obedient to you.

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

2 For she is on lofty eminences, and stands in the midst of the ways.

Wisdom stands on hilltops and at crossroads.

3 For she sits by the gates of princes, and sings in the entrances, [saying],

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

4 You, O men, I exhort; and utter my voice to the sons of men.

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

5 O you simple, understand subtlety, and you that are untaught, imbibe knowledge.

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 to me; for I will speak solemn [truths]; and will produce right [sayings] from my lips.

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

7 For my throat shall meditate truth; and false lips are an abomination before me.

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

8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing in them wrong or perverse.

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

9 They are all evident to those that understand, and right to those that 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 instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than tried 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 better than precious stones; and no valuable substance is of equal worth with it.

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

12 I wisdom have lived [with] counsel and knowledge, and I have called upon understanding.

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 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.

[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 safety are mine; prudence is mine, and strength is mine.

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 princes decree justice.

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

16 By me nobles become great, and monarchs by me rule over the earth.

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 that love me; and they that seek me shall find [me].

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

18 Wealth and glory belong to me; yes, abundant possessions 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 [It is] better to have my fruit than [to have] gold and precious stones; and my produce is better than choice silver.

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

20 I walk in ways of righteousness, and [am] conversant with the paths of judgement;

I always do what is righteous and just/fair.

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

22 The Lord made me the beginning of his ways for his works.

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

23 He established me before time [was] in the beginning, before he made the earth:

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

24 even before he made the depths; before the fountains of water came forth:

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

25 before the mountains were settled, and before all hills, he begets me.

I was born before the hills and mountains were formed;

26 The Lord made countries and uninhabited [tracks], and the highest inhabited parts of the world.

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

27 When he prepared the heaven, I was present with him; and when he prepared his throne upon the winds:

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 and when he strengthened the clouds above; and when he secured the fountains of the earth:

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 decree. and when he strengthened 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 I was by him, suiting [myself to him], I was that wherein he took delight; and daily I rejoiced in his presence continually.

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 For he rejoiced when he had completed the world, and rejoiced amongst the children of men.

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

32 Now then, [my] son, hear me: blessed is the man who shall listen to me, and the mortal who shall 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 [Hear wisdom and be wise, and be not strangers to it. ]

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

34 watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my entrances.

[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 my outgoings are the outgoings of life, and [in them] is prepared favour from the Lord.

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

36 But they that sin against me act wickedly against their own souls: and they that 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.”