Proverbs 8
1 Behold, wisdom calleth, and understanding sendeth forth her voice,
Doesn’t wisdom cry out? Doesn’t understanding raise her voice?
2 On the top of high places, by the wayside, at the house where there are [many] paths doth she place herself.
On the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she stands.
3 Alongside of gates, at the opening of the city, at the entrance of the town[-doors] doth she call loudly,
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 [goeth forth] to the sons of men,
“I call to you men! I send my voice to the sons of mankind.
5 Learn, O ye simple, to 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 of noble things will I speak; and the opening of my lips shall be of what is equitable.
Hear, for I will speak excellent things. The opening of my lips is for right things.
7 For truth uttereth my palate ever, and the abomination of my lips is wickedness.
For my mouth speaks truth. Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 In righteousness are all the sayings of my mouth, there is in them nothing crooked or perverse.
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness. There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
9 They are all evident to the man of understanding, and correct to those that have obtained knowledge.
They are all plain to him who understands, right to those who find knowledge.
10 Accept my correction, 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 pearls; and all the things that men wish for are not equal to 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 the knowledge of discreet thoughts do I discover.
“I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling. Find out knowledge and discretion.
13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil, pride and arrogance, and the evil way: and the mouth of perverseness do I hate.
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.
14 Mine are counsel and sound wisdom: I am understanding; mine is might.
Counsel and sound knowledge are mine. I have understanding and power.
15 Through me do kings reign, and chieftains give decrees [in] righteousness.
By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16 Through me do princes rule, and the nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
By me princes rule, nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth.
17 I indeed love those 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 honor are with me, yea, enduring wealth and righteousness.
With me are riches, honour, enduring wealth, and prosperity.
19 My fruit is better than gold, and than fine gold; and my products, than choice silver.
My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, my yield than choice silver.
20 On the road of righteousness do I walk firmly, in the midst 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 a lasting possession; and their treasures will I fill
that I may give wealth to those who love me. I fill their treasuries.
22 The Lord created me as the beginning of his way, the first of his works from the commencement,
“The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his work, before his deeds of old.
23 From eternity was I appointed chief, from the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth.
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, before the earth existed.
24 When there were yet no depths, was I brought forth; when there were yet no springs laden heavily with water.
When there were no depths, I was born, when there were no springs abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were yet sunk down, 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 land and open fields, nor the chief 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 drew a circle over 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 fastened the skies above; when the springs of the deep became strong;
when he established the clouds above, when the springs of the deep became strong,
29 When he assigned to the sea his decree, that the waters should not transgress his order: when he established firmly 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 near him, as a nursling: and I was day by day [his] delights, playing before him at all times;
then I was the craftsman by his side. I was a delight day by day, always rejoicing before him,
31 Playing in the world, his earth; and having my delights with the sons of men.
rejoicing in his whole world. My delight was with the sons of men.
32 And now, O children [of men], hearken unto me! for happy those that observe my ways.
“Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Hear correction, and be wise, and reject it not.
Hear instruction, and be wise. Don’t refuse it.
34 Happy is the man that hearkeneth unto me, watching day by day 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 he who findeth me findeth life, and he obtaineth favor from the Lord.
For whoever finds me finds life, and will obtain favour from the LORD.
36 But he that sinneth against me doth violence to his own soul: all those that hate me love death.
But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death.”
