Proverbs 8

1 Doth not, wisdom, cry aloud? and, understanding, send forth her voice?

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

2 At the top of the high places above the way, at the place where paths meet, she taketh her stand:

Wisdom stands on hilltops and at crossroads.

3 Beside the gates, at the entrance of the city, —at the going in of the openings, she shouteth: —

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

4 Unto you, O men, I call, and, my voice, is unto the sons of men;

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

5 Understand, ye simple ones, shrewdness, and, ye dullards understand sense;

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 Hear, for, princely things, will I speak, and the opening of my lips shall be of equity;

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

7 For, faithfulness, shall my mouth softly utter, but, the abomination of my lips, shall be lawlessness;

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

8 In righteousness, shall be all the sayings of my mouth, nothing therein, shall be crafty or perverse;

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

9 All of them, shall be plain, to them who would understand, and just, to such as would gain 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 correction, and not silver, and knowledge, rather than choicest 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 better is wisdom, than ornaments of coral, and, no delightful things, can equal her.

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

12 I, wisdom, inhabit shrewdness, —and, the knowledge of sagacious things, I gain.

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 reverence of Yahweh, is to hate wickedness: pride, arrogance, and the way of wickedness; And a mouth of perverse things, do I 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 Mine, are counsel, and effective working, I, am understanding, mine, is valour:

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 dignitaries decree righteousness;

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

16 By me, rulers govern, and nobles—all the righteous judges:

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, them who love me, and, they who diligently seek me, find 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, lordly wealth, 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 Better is my fruit, than gold—yea fine gold, and mine increase, than choice silver;

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

20 In the way of righteousness, I march along, in the middle of the paths of justice:

I always do what is righteous and just/fair.

21 That I may cause them who love me to inherit substance, and, their treasuries, I may fill.

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

22 Yahweh, had constituted me the beginning of his way, before his works, at the commencement of that time;

Yahweh created me, [wisdom], when he began [to create the world]; he created me [to do my work] before he created anything else.

23 At the outset of the ages, had I been established, in advance of the antiquities of the earth;

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

24 When there was no resounding deep, I had been brought forth, when there were no fountains, abounding with water;

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

25 Ere yet the mountains had been settled, before the hills, had I been brought forth;

I was born before the hills and mountains were formed;

26 Or ever he had made the land and the wastes, or the top of the dry parts of the world:

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

27 When he prepared the heavens, there, was I! When he decreed a vault upon the face of the resounding 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 When he made firm the skies above, when the fountains of the resounding deep, waxed strong;

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 fixed for the sea its bound, that, the waters, should not go beyond his bidding, when he decreed 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 became I beside him, a firm and sure worker, then became I filled with delight, day by day, exulting before him on every occasion;

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 Exulting in the fruitful land of his earth, Yea, my fulness of delight, was 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 Now, therefore, ye sons, hearken to me, for how happy are they who, to my ways, pay regard!

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

33 Hear ye correction, and be wise, and do not neglect.

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

34 How happy the man that doth hearken to me, —keeping guard at my doors, day by day, watching at the posts of my gates;

[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 hath obtained favour from Yahweh;

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

36 But, he that misseth me, wrongeth his own soul, all who hate me, love 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.”