Proverbs 8
1 Doth not wisdom cry aloud, and prudence put forth her voice?
Isn't wisdom calling? Isn't understanding raising her voice?
2 Standing in the top of the highest places by the way, in the midst of the paths.
On the top of the hill by the road, she stands up at the crossroads.
3 Beside the gates of the city, in the very doors she speaketh, saying:
Beside the gates of the town, right there at the entrance, she cries out:
4 O ye men, to you I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.
“I'm calling out to you, everyone! My call is to everyone in the whole world!
5 O little ones, understand subtilty, and ye unwise, take notice.
If you're immature, learn how to grow up. If you're stupid, learn what makes good sense.
6 Hear, for I will speak of great things: and my lips shall be opened to preach right things.
Listen to me because I have valuable things to explain to you.
7 My mouth shall meditate truth, and my lips shall hate wickedness.
I say what's right, because I tell the truth and I hate wickedness in all its forms.
8 All my words are just, there is nothing wicked nor perverse in them.
All the words I say are true; none are false or misleading.
9 They are right to them that understand, and just to them that find knowledge.
My words are straightforward to anyone with understanding; they are correct to those who have knowledge.
10 Receive my instruction, and not money: choose knowledge rather than gold.
Choose my instruction over silver; choose knowledge over pure gold.
11 For wisdom is better than all the most precious things: and whatsoever may be desired cannot be compared to it.
For wisdom is more valuable than rubies; everything you could ever want just doesn't compare!
12 I wisdom dwell in counsel, and am present in learned thoughts.
I, wisdom, am at home with good decisions. I know how to find knowledge and discernment.
13 The fear of the Lord hateth evil: I hate arrogance, and pride, and every wicked way, and a mouth with a double tongue.
Honoring the Lord means hating evil. So I hate pride and arrogance, wicked behavior and telling lies.
14 Counsel and equity is mine, prudence is mine, strength is mine.
I have advice and good judgment; I know what makes sense, and I have power.
15 By me kings reign, and lawgivers decree just things,
It's because of me that kings reign, and rulers issue fair decrees.
16 By me princes rule, and the mighty decree justice.
It's because of me that leaders and nobles govern—all who rule justly.
17 I love them that love me: and they that in the morning early watch for me, shall find me.
I love those who love me, and those who really look for me will find me.
18 With me are riches and glory, glorious riches and justice.
With me go riches and honor, lasting wealth and prosperity.
19 For my fruit is better than gold and the precious stone, and my blossoms 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 the way of justice, in the midst of the paths of judgment,
I live in a way that's right; I follow the paths of justice.
21 That I may enrich them that love me, and may fill their treasures.
I grant wealth to those who love me; I fill their treasure storehouses.
22 The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his ways, before he made any thing from the beginning.
The Lord created me first of all; I was made before anything else.
23 I was set up from eternity, and of old before the earth was made.
I was formed a long time ago, at the first, before the world began.
24 The depths were not as yet, and I was already conceived. neither had the fountains of waters as yet sprung out:
I was born when there were no ocean depths, when there were no springs pouring out water.
25 The mountains with their huge bulk had not as yet been established: before the hills I was brought forth:
I was born before the mountains or the hills had been formed,
26 He had not yet made the earth, nor the rivers, nor the poles 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 heavens, I was present: when with a certain law and compass he enclosed the depths:
I was there when he placed the heavens in position, when he drew the horizon over the ocean,
28 When he established the sky above, and poised the fountains of waters:
when he made the clouds in the sky above, when he created the springs of the oceans,
29 When he compassed the sea with its bounds, and set a law to the waters that they should not pass their limits: when be balanced 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 with him forming all things: and was delighted every day, playing before him at all times;
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 Playing in the world: and my delights were to be with the children of men.
I was so happy in the world he created, celebrating together with human beings.
32 Now therefore, ye children, hear me: Blessed are they that keep my ways.
And now, my sons, listen to me, for happy are those who follow my ways.
33 Hear instruction and be wise, and refuse it not.
Listen to my instruction and be wise—do not reject it.
34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, and that watcheth daily at my gates, and waiteth at the posts of my doors.
Happy are those who listen to me, watching for me every day at my doors, waiting at my entrance way.
35 He that shall find me, shall find life, and shall have salvation from the Lord:
For those who find me, find life, and are accepted by the Lord.
36 But he that shall sin against me, shall hurt his own soul. All that hate me love death.
But those who don't find me hurt themselves; everyone who hates me loves death.”
