Proverbs 8
1 Doth not wisedome crie? and vnderstanding vtter her voyce?
It is as if wisdom, with great understanding [of many things], is calling [PRS] out [to people].
2 She standeth in the top of the high places by the way in the place of the paths.
Wisdom stands on hilltops and at crossroads.
3 She cryeth besides the gates before the citie at the entrie of the doores,
[Wisdom also stands] at the city gates and shouts loudly,
4 O men, I call vnto you, and vtter my voyce to the children of men.
“I am calling to everyone! I am shouting loudly to all people!
5 O ye foolish men, vnderstand wisedome, and ye, O fooles, be wise in heart.
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 Giue eare, for I will speake of excellent things, and the opening of my lippes, shall teache things that be right.
Listen to me, because I have some excellent/important things to say. What I say is what is fair/right.
7 For my mouth shall speake the trueth, and my lippes abhorre wickednesse.
I speak what is true; I detest speaking [MTY] what is false/deceptive.
8 All the wordes of my mouth are righteous: there is no lewdenes, nor frowardnesse in them.
Everything that I say is honest; there is nothing that I say that deceives [people].
9 They are all plaine to him that will vnderstande, and streight to them that woulde finde knowledge.
My words are clear to those who have good sense; those who are wise know that what I say is right.
10 Receiue mine instruction, and not siluer, and knowledge rather then fine golde.
[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 wisdome is better then precious stones: and all pleasures are not to be compared vnto her.
because wisdom is more valuable than jewels. Nothing that you desire [is as valuable] as being wise.
12 I wisdome dwell with prudence, and I find foorth knowledge and counsels.
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 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.
[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 I haue counsell and wisedome: I am vnderstanding, and I haue strength.
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 By me, Kings reigne, and princes decree iustice.
When kings are wise, they rule [well]; and when rulers are wise, they make laws that are just/fair.
16 By me princes rule and the nobles, and all the iudges of the earth.
Rulers govern their people with the help of me, wisdom, and those who have authority decide things fairly/just with my help.
17 I loue them that loue me: and they that seeke me earely, shall finde me.
I, [wisdom], love [all] those who love me, and [all] those who truly seek me [will] find me.
18 Riches and honour are with me: euen durable riches and righteousnesse.
I enable [people] to become rich and to be honored; [I enable them to have] wealth that will last and to be successful.
19 My fruite is better then golde, euen then fine golde, and my reuenues better then fine siluer.
What I can give people is more valuable than fine/pure gold and the best silver.
20 I cause to walke in the way of righteousnes, and in the middes of the paths of iudgement,
I always do what is righteous and just/fair.
21 That I may cause them that loue me, to inherite substance, and I will fill their treasures.
I give wealth to those who love me; I fill their houses with valuable things.
22 The Lord hath possessed me in the beginning of his way: I was before his workes of olde.
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 set vp from euerlasting, from the beginning and before the earth.
He appointed me long ago, before he created the earth.
24 When there were no depths, was I begotten, when there were no fountaines abounding with water.
I was born before the oceans were [created], when there were no springs from which water flowed.
25 Before the mountaines were setled: and before the hilles, was I begotten.
I was born before the hills and mountains were formed;
26 He had not yet made the earth, nor the open places, nor the height of the dust in the worlde.
[I, wisdom], was born before Yahweh made the earth, before he made the fields and the soil on the earth.
27 When hee prepared the heauens, I was there, when he set the compasse vpon the deepe.
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 established the cloudes aboue, when he confirmed the fountaines of the deepe,
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 gaue his decree to the Sea, that the waters shoulde not passe his commandement: when he appointed 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 Then was I with him as a nourisher, and I was dayly his delight reioycing alway before him,
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 And tooke my solace in the compasse of his earth: and my delite is with the children of men.
I was delighted with the world that he created; I was happy with the people whom he created, too.
32 Therefore nowe hearken, O children, vnto me: for blessed are they that keepe my wayes.
So, [you people who are like] my sons, listen to me. [I am] pleased with [all] those who obey my teachings.
33 Heare instruction, and be ye wise, and refuse it not:
Listen [carefully] to what I teach you and become wise. Do not reject my teaching!
34 blessed is the man that heareth mee, watching dayly at my gates, and giuing attendance at the postes of my doores.
[I am] pleased with those who listen to me, those who are outside my house every day, waiting [for me to come out].
35 For he that findeth me, findeth life, and shall obteine fauour of the Lord.
Those who find me will have [a long] life, and Yahweh [will] be pleased with them.
36 But he that sinneth against me, hurteth his owne soule: and all that hate me, loue 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.”
