Proverbs 8

1 Does wisdom not call? And understanding give forth her voice?

It is as if wisdom, with great understanding [of many things], is calling [PRS] out [to people].

2 At the head of high places by the way, She has stood between the paths,

Wisdom stands on hilltops and at crossroads.

3 At the side of the gates, at the mouth of the city, The entrance of the openings, she cries aloud,

[Wisdom also stands] at the city gates and shouts loudly,

4 “To you, O men, I call, And my voice [is] to the sons of men.

“I am calling to everyone! I am shouting loudly to all people!

5 Understand, you simple ones, prudence, And you fools, understand the 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 Listen, for I speak noble things, And the opening of my lips [is] uprightness.

Listen to me, because I have some excellent/important things to say. What I say is what is fair/right.

7 For my mouth utters truth, And wickedness [is] an abomination to my lips.

I speak what is true; I detest speaking [MTY] what is false/deceptive.

8 All the sayings of my mouth [are] in righteousness, Nothing in them is contrary and perverse.

Everything that I say is honest; there is nothing that I say that deceives [people].

9 All of them [are] plain to the intelligent, And upright to those finding knowledge.

My words are clear to those who have good sense; those who are wise know that what I say is right.

10 Receive my instruction, and not silver, And knowledge rather than choice gold.

[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 wisdom [is] better than rubies, Indeed, all delights are not comparable with it.

because wisdom is more valuable than jewels. Nothing that you desire [is as valuable] as being wise.

12 I, wisdom, have dwelt with prudence, And I find out a knowledge of purposes.

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 fear of YHWH [is] to hate evil; Pride, and arrogance, and an evil way, And a contrary mouth, I have hated.

[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 Counsel and substance [are] mine, I [am] understanding, I have might.

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 reign, and princes decree righteousness,

When kings are wise, they rule [well]; and when rulers are wise, they make laws that are just/fair.

16 By me chiefs rule, and nobles, All judges of 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 love those loving me, And those seeking me earnestly find me.

I, [wisdom], love [all] those who love me, and [all] those who truly seek me [will] find me.

18 Wealth and honor [are] with me, Lasting substance and righteousness.

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 fruit [is] better than gold, even fine gold, And my increase than choice silver.

What I can give people is more valuable than fine/pure gold and the best silver.

20 I cause to walk in a path of righteousness, In midst of paths of judgment,

I always do what is righteous and just/fair.

21 To cause my lovers to inherit substance, Indeed, I fill their treasures.

I give wealth to those who love me; I fill their houses with valuable things.

22 YHWH possessed me—the beginning of His way, Before His works since then.

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 anointed from the age, from the first, From former states of the earth.

He appointed me long ago, before he created the earth.

24 In there being no depths, I was brought forth, In there being no fountains heavy [with] waters,

I was born before the oceans were [created], when there were no springs from which water flowed.

25 Before mountains were sunk, Before heights, I was brought forth.

I was born before the hills and mountains were formed;

26 While He had not made the earth, and out-places, And the top of the dusts of the world.

[I, wisdom], was born before Yahweh made the earth, before he made the fields and the soil on the earth.

27 In His preparing the heavens I [am] there, In His decreeing a circle on the face of the deep,

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 In His strengthening clouds above, In His making strong fountains of the deep,

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 In His setting for the sea its limit, And the waters do not transgress His command, In His decreeing the foundations of 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 I am near Him, a workman, And I am a delight—day by day. Rejoicing before Him at all times,

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 Rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth, And my delights [are] with the sons of men.

I was delighted with the world that he created; I was happy with the people whom he created, too.

32 And now, you sons, listen to me, Indeed, blessed are they who keep my ways.

So, [you people who are like] my sons, listen to me. [I am] pleased with [all] those who obey my teachings.

33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and do not slight.

Listen [carefully] to what I teach you and become wise. Do not reject my teaching!

34 O the blessedness of the man listening to me, To watch at my doors day by day, To watch at the doorposts of my entrance.

[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 whoever is finding me, has found life, And brings out goodwill from YHWH.

Those who find me will have [a long] life, and Yahweh [will] be pleased with them.

36 And whoever is missing me, is wronging his soul, All hating me have loved 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.”