Proverbs 8
1 Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
Does not wisdom cry out? Does not understanding raise her voice?
2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
On the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she stands.
3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
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 man.
“I call to you men! I send my voice to the sons of mankind.
5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: 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 of 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 speak 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 froward 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 to be compared to it.
For wisdom is better than rubies. All the things that may be desired cannot be compared to it.
12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
“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; I have strength.
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 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; [yea], durable 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 revenue than choice silver.
My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, my yield than choice silver.
20 I lead in the way 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 treasures.
that I may give wealth to those who love me. I fill their treasuries.
22 The LORD 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 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 highest part 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 set a compass upon the face of the depth:
When he established the heavens, I was there. When he set a circle on the surface of the deep,
28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
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 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, [as] one brought up [with him: ] 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 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for 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. Do not 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 shall obtain favour of the LORD.
For whoever finds me finds life, and will obtain favor from the LORD.
36 But he that sinneth against 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.”
