Proverbs 8
1 You shall proclaim wisdom, that understanding may be obedient to you.
Doesn’t wisdom cry out? Doesn’t understanding raise her voice?
2 For she is on lofty eminences, and stands in the midst of the ways.
On the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she stands.
3 For she sits by the gates of princes, and sings in the entrances, [saying],
Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entry doors, she cries aloud:
4 You, O men, I exhort; and utter my voice to the sons of men.
“I call to you men! I send my voice to the sons of mankind.
5 O you simple, understand subtlety, and you that are untaught, imbibe knowledge.
You simple, understand prudence! You fools, be of an understanding heart!
6 Listen to me; for I will speak solemn [truths]; and will produce right [sayings] from my lips.
Hear, for I will speak excellent things. The opening of my lips is for right things.
7 For my throat shall meditate truth; and false lips are an abomination before me.
For my mouth speaks truth. Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing in them wrong or perverse.
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness. There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
9 They are all evident to those that understand, and right to those that find knowledge.
They are all plain to him who understands, right to those who find knowledge.
10 Receive instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than tried gold.
Receive my instruction rather than silver, knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 For wisdom is better than precious stones; and no valuable substance is of equal worth with it.
For wisdom is better than rubies. All the things that may be desired can’t be compared to it.
12 I wisdom have lived [with] counsel and knowledge, and I have called upon understanding.
“I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling. Find out knowledge and discretion.
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.
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.
14 Counsel and safety are mine; prudence is mine, and strength is mine.
Counsel and sound knowledge are mine. I have understanding and power.
15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16 By me nobles become great, and monarchs by me rule over the earth.
By me princes rule, nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth.
17 I love those that love me; and they that seek me shall find [me].
I love those who love me. Those who seek me diligently will find me.
18 Wealth and glory belong to me; yes, abundant possessions and righteousness.
With me are riches, honour, enduring 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.
My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, my yield than choice silver.
20 I walk in ways of righteousness, and [am] conversant with the paths of judgement;
I walk in the way of righteousness, in the middle of 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.
that I may give wealth to those who love me. I fill their treasuries.
22 The Lord made me the beginning of his ways for his works.
“The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his work, before his deeds of old.
23 He established me before time [was] in the beginning, before he made the earth:
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, before the earth existed.
24 even before he made the depths; before the fountains of water came forth:
When there were no depths, I was born, when there were no springs abounding with water.
25 before the mountains were settled, and before all hills, he begets me.
Before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was born;
26 The Lord made countries and uninhabited [tracks], and the highest inhabited parts of the world.
while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
27 When he prepared the heaven, I was present with him; and when he prepared his throne upon the winds:
When he established the heavens, I was there. When he set a circle on the surface of the deep,
28 and when he strengthened the clouds above; and when he secured the fountains of the earth:
when he established the clouds above, when the springs of the deep became strong,
29 decree. and when he strengthened the foundations of the earth:
when he gave to the sea its boundary, that the waters should not violate his commandment, when he marked 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 the craftsman by his side. I was a delight day by day, always rejoicing before him,
31 For he rejoiced when he had completed the world, and rejoiced amongst the children of men.
rejoicing in his whole world. My delight was with the sons of men.
32 Now then, [my] son, hear me: blessed is the man who shall listen to me, and the mortal who shall keep my ways;
“Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 [Hear wisdom and be wise, and be not strangers to it. ]
Hear instruction, and be wise. Don’t refuse it.
34 watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my entrances.
Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my door posts.
35 For my outgoings are the outgoings of life, and [in them] is prepared favour from the Lord.
For whoever finds me finds life, and will obtain favour from the LORD.
36 But they that sin against me act wickedly against their own souls: and they that hate me love death.
But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death.”
