Proverbs 8

1 Does not wisdom call out, and prudence bestow her voice?

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

2 At the summits and the tops of exalted places, standing above the ways, in the midst of the paths,

Wisdom stands on hilltops and at crossroads.

3 beside the gates of the city, at the very doors, she speaks, saying:

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

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

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

5 O little ones, understand discernment. And you who are unwise, turn your souls.

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 will speak about great things, and my lips will be opened, so as to foretell what is right.

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

7 My throat shall practice truth, and my lips shall detest the impious.

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

8 All my words are just. There is no depravity in them, and no perversity.

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

9 They are upright to those who understand, and equitable to those who discover knowledge.

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

10 Accept my discipline, and not money. Choose the doctrine that is greater than 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 all that is most precious, and everything that is desirable cannot compare to her.

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

12 I, wisdom, dwell in counsel, and I am inside learned thoughts.

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 evil. I detest arrogance, and pride, and every wicked way, and a mouth with a double tongue.

[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 is mine, and equity. Prudence is mine. 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 Through me, kings reign and legislators decree just conditions.

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

16 Through me, princes rule and the powerful decree justice.

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 stand watch for me until morning shall discover me.

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

18 With me, are wealth and glory, superb riches and justice.

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

19 For my fruit is better than gold and precious stones, and my progeny better than 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 justice, in the midst of the paths of judgment,

I always do what is righteous and just/fair.

21 so that I may enrich those who love me, and thus complete their treasures.

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

22 The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his ways, before he made anything, from the beginning.

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

23 I was ordained from eternity, and out of antiquity, before the earth was formed.

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

24 The abyss did not yet exist, and I was already conceived; neither had the fountains of waters yet erupted.

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

25 The mountains, with their great mass, had not yet been established. Before the hills, I was brought forth.

I was born before the hills and mountains were formed;

26 Still he had not made the earth, and the rivers, and the poles of the globe 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 already present: when he prepared the heavens; when, with a certain law and a circuit, he fortified the abyss;

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 made firm the sky above, and set free the fountains of waters;

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 encompassed the sea within its limits, and laid down a law for the waters, lest they transgress their limits; when he weighed 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 with him in composing all things. And I was delighted, throughout every day, by playing in his sight at all times,

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 playing in globe of the earth. And my delight was to be with the sons of men.

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

32 Therefore, sons, hear me now. Blessed are those who preserve 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 discipline, and become wise, and do not be willing to cast it aside.

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

34 Blessed is the man who listens to me, and who stands watch at my gates every day, and who observes at the posts of my doors.

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

35 He who finds me, finds life, and he will draw salvation from the Lord.

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

36 But he who sins against me will wound his own soul. 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.”