Proverbs 8
1 Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding give forth her voice?
Doesn’t wisdom cry out? Doesn’t understanding raise her voice?
2 On the top of high places by the way, at the cross-paths she taketh her stand.
On the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she stands.
3 Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud.
Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entry doors, she cries aloud:
4 Unto you, men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of man:
“I call to you men! I send my voice to the sons of mankind.
5 O ye simple, understand prudence; and ye foolish, understand sense.
You simple, understand prudence! You fools, be of an understanding heart!
6 Hear, for I will speak excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
Hear, for I will speak excellent things. The opening of my lips is for right things.
7 For my palate shall meditate truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
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 tortuous or perverse in them.
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness. There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
They are all plain to him who understands, right to those who find knowledge.
10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold:
Receive my instruction rather than silver, knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 for wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things that may be desired are not equal to it.
For wisdom is better than rubies. All the things that may be desired can’t be compared to it.
12 I wisdom dwell [with] prudence, and find the knowledge [which cometh] of reflection.
“I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling. Find out knowledge and discretion.
13 The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil; pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth do I hate.
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.
14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am intelligence; I have strength.
Counsel and sound knowledge are mine. I have understanding and power.
15 By me kings reign, and rulers make just decrees;
By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16 by me princes rule, and nobles, all the judges of 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 early shall find me.
I love those who love me. Those who seek me diligently will find me.
18 Riches and honour are with me; durable wealth and righteousness.
With me are riches, honour, enduring wealth, and prosperity.
19 My fruit is better than fine gold, yea, than pure gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, my yield than choice silver.
20 I walk in the path of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
I walk in the way of righteousness, in the middle of the paths of justice,
21 that I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasuries.
that I may give wealth to those who love me. I fill their treasuries.
22 Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
“The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his work, before his deeds of old.
23 I was set up from eternity, from the beginning, before the earth was.
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, before the earth existed.
24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth, when there were no fountains abounding with water.
When there were no depths, I was born, when there were no springs abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth;
Before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was born;
26 while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust 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 heavens I was there; when he ordained the circle upon the face of the deep;
When he established the heavens, I was there. When he set a circle on the surface of the deep,
28 when he established the skies above, when the fountains of the deep became strong;
when he established the clouds above, when the springs of the deep became strong,
29 when he imposed on the sea his decree that the waters should not pass his commandment, when he appointed 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 then I was by him [his] nursling, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
then I was the craftsman by his side. I was a delight day by day, always rejoicing before him,
31 rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth, and my delights [were] with the sons of men.
rejoicing in his whole world. My delight was with the sons of men.
32 And now, sons, hearken unto me, and blessed are they that keep my ways:
“Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 hear instruction and be wise, and refuse it not.
Hear instruction, and be wise. Don’t refuse it.
34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my door posts.
35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and obtaineth favour of Jehovah;
For whoever finds me finds life, and will obtain favour from the LORD.
36 but he that sinneth against me doeth violence to his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death.”
