Proverbs 8
1 Doth not wisedome crie? and vnderstanding vtter her voyce?
Does not wisdom cry out? Does not understanding raise her voice?
2 She standeth in the top of the high places by the way in the place of the paths.
On the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she stands.
3 She cryeth besides the gates before the citie at the entrie of the doores,
Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entry doors, she cries aloud:
4 O men, I call vnto you, and vtter my voyce to the children of men.
“I call to you men! I send my voice to the sons of mankind.
5 O ye foolish men, vnderstand wisedome, and ye, O fooles, be wise in heart.
You simple, understand prudence! You fools, be of an understanding heart!
6 Giue eare, for I will speake of excellent things, and the opening of my lippes, shall teache things that be right.
Hear, for I will speak excellent things. The opening of my lips is for right things.
7 For my mouth shall speake the trueth, and my lippes abhorre wickednesse.
For my mouth speaks truth. Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the wordes of my mouth are righteous: there is no lewdenes, nor frowardnesse in them.
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness. There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
9 They are all plaine to him that will vnderstande, and streight to them that woulde finde knowledge.
They are all plain to him who understands, right to those who find knowledge.
10 Receiue mine instruction, and not siluer, and knowledge rather then fine golde.
Receive my instruction rather than silver, knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 For wisdome is better then precious stones: and all pleasures are not to be compared vnto her.
For wisdom is better than rubies. All the things that may be desired cannot be compared to it.
12 I wisdome dwell with prudence, and I find foorth knowledge and counsels.
“I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling. Find out knowledge and discretion.
13 The feare of the Lord is to hate euill as pride, and arrogancie, and the euill way: and a mouth that speaketh lewde things, I doe hate.
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.
14 I haue counsell and wisedome: I am vnderstanding, and I haue strength.
Counsel and sound knowledge are mine. I have understanding and power.
15 By me, Kings reigne, and princes decree iustice.
By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16 By me princes rule and the nobles, and all the iudges of the earth.
By me princes rule, nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth.
17 I loue them that loue me: and they that seeke me earely, shall finde me.
I love those who love me. Those who seek me diligently will find me.
18 Riches and honour are with me: euen durable riches and righteousnesse.
With me are riches, honor, enduring wealth, and prosperity.
19 My fruite is better then golde, euen then fine golde, and my reuenues better then fine siluer.
My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, my yield than choice silver.
20 I cause to walke in the way of righteousnes, and in the middes of the paths of iudgement,
I walk in the way of righteousness, in the middle of the paths of justice,
21 That I may cause them that loue me, to inherite substance, and I will fill their treasures.
that I may give wealth to those who love me. I fill their treasuries.
22 The Lord hath possessed me in the beginning of his way: I was before his workes of olde.
“The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his work, before his deeds of old.
23 I was set vp from euerlasting, from the beginning and before the earth.
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, before the earth existed.
24 When there were no depths, was I begotten, when there were no fountaines abounding with water.
When there were no depths, I was born, when there were no springs abounding with water.
25 Before the mountaines were setled: and before the hilles, was I begotten.
Before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was born;
26 He had not yet made the earth, nor the open places, nor the height of the dust in the worlde.
while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
27 When hee prepared the heauens, I was there, when he set the compasse vpon the deepe.
When he established the heavens, I was there. When he set a circle on the surface of the deep,
28 When he established the cloudes aboue, when he confirmed the fountaines of the deepe,
when he established the clouds above, when the springs of the deep became strong,
29 When he gaue his decree to the Sea, that the waters shoulde not passe his commandement: 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 was I with him as a nourisher, and I was dayly his delight reioycing alway before him,
then I was the craftsman by his side. I was a delight day by day, always rejoicing before him,
31 And tooke my solace in the compasse of his earth: and my delite is with the children of men.
rejoicing in his whole world. My delight was with the sons of men.
32 Therefore nowe hearken, O children, vnto me: for blessed are they that keepe my wayes.
“Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Heare instruction, and be ye wise, and refuse it not:
Hear instruction, and be wise. Do not refuse it.
34 blessed is the man that heareth mee, watching dayly at my gates, and giuing attendance at the postes of my doores.
Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my door posts.
35 For he that findeth me, findeth life, and shall obteine fauour of the Lord.
For whoever finds me finds life, and will obtain favor from the LORD.
36 But he that sinneth against me, hurteth his owne soule: and all that hate me, loue death.
But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death.”
