Proverbs 8
1 It is as if wisdom, with great understanding [of many things], is calling [PRS] out [to people].
Doth not wisdom cry aloud, And understanding put forth her voice?
2 Wisdom stands on hilltops and at crossroads.
Upon the top of the high places, By the wayside, In the cross-ways, She taketh her station.
3 [Wisdom also stands] at the city gates and shouts loudly,
By the side of the gates, In the entrance of the city, In the approaches to the doors, she crieth aloud.
4 “I am calling to everyone! I am shouting loudly to all people!
“To you, O men! do I call, And my voice is to the sons of men!
5 You people who do not know how to do things that are smart to do, get sound judgment; you foolish people, get good understanding!
O ye simple ones! learn wisdom, And ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart!
6 Listen to me, because I have some excellent/important things to say. What I say is what is fair/right.
Hear, for I speak excellent things, And my lips utter that which is right.
7 I speak what is true; I detest speaking [MTY] what is false/deceptive.
For my mouth speaketh truth, And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 Everything that I say is honest; there is nothing that I say that deceives [people].
All the words of my mouth are in uprightness; There is nothing crooked or deceitful in them;
9 My words are clear to those who have good sense; those who are wise know that what I say is right.
They are all plain to the man of understanding, And right to those who find knowledge.
10 [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,
Receive my instruction, and not silver. And knowledge rather than choice gold!
11 because wisdom is more valuable than jewels. Nothing that you desire [is as valuable] as being wise.
For wisdom is better than pearls, And no precious things are to be compared with her.
12 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.
“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And find out the knowledge of sagacious counsels.
13 [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].
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, And the deceitful mouth, do I hate.
14 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.
Counsel is mine, and sound reason; I am understanding; I have strength.
15 When kings are wise, they rule [well]; and when rulers are wise, they make laws that are just/fair.
By me kings reign, And princes decree justice.
16 Rulers govern their people with the help of me, wisdom, and those who have authority decide things fairly/just with my help.
By me princes rule, And nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17 I, [wisdom], love [all] those who love me, and [all] those who truly seek me [will] find me.
I love them that love me, And they who seek me early shall find me.
18 I enable [people] to become rich and to be honored; [I enable them to have] wealth that will last and to be successful.
Riches and honor are with me; Yea, durable riches and prosperity.
19 What I can give people is more valuable than fine/pure gold and the best silver.
My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold. And my revenue than choice silver.
20 I always do what is righteous and just/fair.
I walk in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of equity.
21 I give wealth to those who love me; I fill their houses with valuable things.
I cause those who love me to possess substance; Yea, I fill their treasuries.
22 Yahweh created me, [wisdom], when he began [to create the world]; he created me [to do my work] before he created anything else.
“The LORD created me, the firstling of his course, Before his works, of old;
23 He appointed me long ago, before he created the earth.
I was anointed from everlasting, From the beginning, even before the earth was made.
24 I was born before the oceans were [created], when there were no springs from which water flowed.
When as yet there were no deeps, I was brought forth. When there were no springs, abounding with water.
25 I was born before the hills and mountains were formed;
Before the mountains were settled, Yea, before the hills, I was brought forth;
26 [I, wisdom], was born before Yahweh made the earth, before he made the fields and the soil on the earth.
Ere yet he had made the land and the wastes, And the first of the clods of the earth.
27 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.
When he framed the heavens, I was there; When he drew a circle upon the face of the deep;
28 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.
When he made firm the sky above, And the fountains of the deep rushed forth;
29 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.
When he gave to the sea its bounds, that the waters should not pass their border; When he marked out the foundations of the earth, —
30 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.
Then was I by him as a master-builder; I was his delight day by day, Exulting before him at all times;
31 I was delighted with the world that he created; I was happy with the people whom he created, too.
Exulting in the habitable part of his earth, And my delight was with the sons of men.
32 So, [you people who are like] my sons, listen to me. [I am] pleased with [all] those who obey my teachings.
“Now, therefore, ye children, hearken to me! For happy are they who keep my ways!
33 Listen [carefully] to what I teach you and become wise. Do not reject my teaching!
Hear instruction, and be wise! Yea, reject it not!
34 [I am] pleased with those who listen to me, those who are outside my house every day, waiting [for me to come out].
Happy the man who hearkeneth to me, Who watcheth day by day at my gates, Who waiteth at the posts of my doors;
35 Those who find me will have [a long] life, and Yahweh [will] be pleased with them.
For he that findeth me findeth life, And obtaineth favor from the LORD;
36 But those who stray away from me [just] harm themselves. All those who hate me, [it is as though] [IRO] they are loving death.”
But he who misseth me doeth violence to himself; All they who hate me love death.”
