Proverbs 8
1 Doth not wisdom call, and understanding put forth her voice?
Doesn’t wisdom cry out? Doesn’t understanding raise her voice?
2 In the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she standeth;
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, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.
“I call to you men! I send my voice to the sons of mankind.
5 O ye thoughtless, understand prudence, and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
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 mouth shall utter 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 perverse or crooked 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 things desirable are not to be compared unto her.
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 out knowledge of devices.
“I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling. Find out knowledge and discretion.
13 The fear of the LORD 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 understanding, power is mine.
Counsel and sound knowledge are mine. I have understanding and power.
15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
By me princes rule, nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth.
17 I love them that love me, and those that seek me earnestly shall find me.
I love those who love me. Those who seek me diligently will find me.
18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, enduring riches and righteousness.
With me are riches, honor, enduring wealth, and prosperity.
19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my produce than choice silver.
My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, my yield than choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice;
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 that I may fill their treasuries.
that I may give wealth to those who love me. I fill their treasuries.
22 The LORD made me as the beginning of His way, the first of 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 everlasting, from the beginning, or ever 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 established the heavens, I was there; when He set a 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 made firm the skies above, when the fountains of the deep showed their might,
when he established the clouds above, when the springs of the deep became strong,
29 When He gave to the sea His decree, that the waters should not transgress 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, as a nursling; and I was daily all delight, playing always before Him,
then I was the craftsman by his side. I was a delight day by day, always rejoicing before him,
31 Playing in His habitable earth, and my delights are with the sons of men.
rejoicing in his whole world. My delight was with the sons of men.
32 Now therefore, ye children, hearken unto me; for happy 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 Happy is the man that hearkeneth to 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 the LORD.
For whoever finds me finds life, and will obtain favor from the LORD.
36 But he that misseth me wrongeth 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.”
