Amsal 8
1 Dengar! Kebijaksanaan berseru-seru, hikmat mengangkat suara.
Doth not wisdom call, and understanding put forth her voice?
2 Ia berdiri di bukit-bukit di sisi jalan, dan di persimpangan-persimpangan.
In the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she standeth;
3 Di pintu gerbang, di jalan masuk ke kota, di situlah terdengar suaranya.
Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud:
4 "Hai, umat manusia, kepadamu aku berseru; setiap insan di bumi, perhatikanlah himbauanku!
'Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.
5 Kamu yang belum berpengalaman, belajarlah mempunyai pikiran yang tajam; kamu yang bebal, belajarlah menjadi insaf.
O ye thoughtless, understand prudence, and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
6 Perhatikanlah perkataan-perkataanku, karena semuanya tepat dan bermutu.
Hear, for I will speak excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
7 Yang kukatakan, betul semua, sebab aku benci kepada dusta.
For my mouth shall utter truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 Perkataan-perkataanku jujur semua, tak satu pun yang berbelit atau salah.
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness, there is nothing perverse or crooked in them.
9 Bagi orang cerdas, perkataanku benar, bagi orang yang arif, perkataanku tepat.
They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
10 Hargailah nasihatku melebihi perak asli, pentingkanlah pengetahuan melebihi emas murni.
Receive my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 Akulah hikmat, lebih berharga dari berlian; tak dapat dibandingkan dengan apa pun yang kauidamkan.
For wisdom is better than rubies, and all things desirable are not to be compared unto her.
12 Akulah hikmat; padaku ada pengertian, kebijaksanaan dan pengetahuan.
I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of devices.
13 Menghormati TUHAN berarti membenci kejahatan; aku tidak menyukai kesombongan dan keangkuhan. Aku benci tingkah laku yang jahat dan kata-kata tipu muslihat.
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
14 Akulah yang memberi ilham. Dan aku juga yang mewujudkannya. Aku cerdas dan kuat pula.
Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine.
15 Raja-raja kubantu menjalankan pemerintahan, para penguasa kutolong menegakkan keadilan.
By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16 Karena jasaku, para pembesar dan para bangsawan memerintah dan menjalankan keadilan.
By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17 Aku mengasihi mereka yang suka kepadaku; yang mencari aku, akan menemukan aku.
I love them that love me, and those that seek me earnestly shall find me.
18 Padaku tersedia kekayaan juga kehormatan dan kemakmuran.
Riches and honour are with me; yea, enduring riches and righteousness.
19 Yang kaudapat dari aku melebihi emas murni; lebih berharga dari perak asli.
My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my produce than choice silver.
20 Aku mengikuti jalan keadilan, aku melangkah di jalan kejujuran.
I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice;
21 Orang yang mengasihi aku, kujadikan kaya; kupenuhi rumahnya dengan harta benda.
That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, and that I may fill their treasuries.
22 Aku diciptakan TUHAN sebagai yang pertama, akulah hasil karya-Nya yang semula pada zaman dahulu kala.
The LORD made me as the beginning of His way, the first of His works of old.
23 Aku dibentuk sejak permulaan zaman, pada mulanya, sebelum bumi diciptakan.
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
24 Aku lahir sebelum tercipta samudra raya, sebelum muncul sumber-sumber air.
When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
25 Aku lahir sebelum gunung-gunung ditegakkan, sebelum bukit-bukit didirikan,
Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth;
26 sebelum TUHAN menciptakan bumi dan padang-padangnya, bahkan sebelum diciptakan-Nya gumpalan tanah yang pertama.
While as yet He had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
27 Aku menyaksikan ketika langit dihamparkan, dan cakrawala direntangkan di atas lautan,
When He established the heavens, I was there; when He set a circle upon the face of the deep,
28 ketika TUHAN menempatkan awan di angkasa, dan membuka sumber-sumber samudra,
When He made firm the skies above, when the fountains of the deep showed their might,
29 ketika Ia memerintahkan air laut supaya jangan melewati batas-batasnya. Aku pun turut hadir di sana ketika alas bumi diletakkan-Nya.
When He gave to the sea His decree, that the waters should not transgress His commandment, when He appointed the foundations of the earth;
30 Aku berada di samping-Nya sebagai anak kesayangan-Nya, setiap hari akulah kebahagiaan-Nya; selalu aku bermain-main di hadapan-Nya.
Then I was by Him, as a nursling; and I was daily all delight, playing always before Him,
31 Aku bersenang-senang di atas bumi-Nya, dan merasa bahagia di antara manusia.
Playing in His habitable earth, and my delights are with the sons of men.
32 Karena itu, dengarkanlah aku, hai orang muda! Turutilah petunjukku, maka kau akan bahagia.
Now therefore, ye children, hearken unto me; for happy are they that keep my ways.
33 Terimalah petuah dan jadilah bijaksana, janganlah engkau meremehkannya.
Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
34 Bahagialah orang yang mendengarkan aku yang setiap hari duduk menanti di pintu rumahku, dan berjaga-jaga di gerbang kediamanku.
Happy is the man that hearkeneth to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 Siapa mendapat aku, memperoleh kehidupan, kepadanya TUHAN berkenan.
For whoso findeth me findeth life, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
36 Siapa tidak mendapat aku, merugikan diri sendiri; orang yang membenciku, mencintai maut."
But he that misseth me wrongeth his own soul; all they that hate me love death.'
