Proverbs 8
8
Wisdom’s Call
1Does not wisdom call out?
Does not understanding raise her voice?
2At the highest point along the way,
where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
3beside the gate leading into the city,
at the entrance, she cries aloud:
4“To you, O people, I call out;
I raise my voice to all mankind.
5You who are simple, gain prudence;
you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.#8:5 Septuagint; Hebrew foolish, instruct your minds
6Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say;
I open my lips to speak what is right.
7My mouth speaks what is true,
for my lips detest wickedness.
8All the words of my mouth are just;
none of them is crooked or perverse.
9To the discerning all of them are right;
they are upright to those who have found knowledge.
10Choose my instruction instead of silver,
knowledge rather than choice gold,
11for wisdom is more precious than rubies,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.
12“I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
I possess knowledge and discretion.
13To fear the Lord is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech.
14Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
I have insight, I have power.
15By me kings reign
and rulers issue decrees that are just;
16by me princes govern,
and nobles—all who rule on earth.#8:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; other Hebrew manuscripts all righteous rulers
17I love those who love me,
and those who seek me find me.
18With me are riches and honor,
enduring wealth and prosperity.
19My fruit is better than fine gold;
what I yield surpasses choice silver.
20I walk in the way of righteousness,
along the paths of justice,
21bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me
and making their treasuries full.
22“The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works,#8:22 Or way; or dominion#8:22 Or The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work; or The Lord brought me forth at the beginning of his work
before his deeds of old;
23I was formed long ages ago,
at the very beginning, when the world came to be.
24When there were no watery depths, I was given birth,
when there were no springs overflowing with water;
25before the mountains were settled in place,
before the hills, I was given birth,
26before he made the world or its fields
or any of the dust of the earth.
27I was there when he set the heavens in place,
when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,
28when he established the clouds above
and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,
29when he gave the sea its boundary
so the waters would not overstep his command,
and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.
30Then I was constantly#8:30 Or was the artisan; or was a little child at his side.
I was filled with delight day after day,
rejoicing always in his presence,
31rejoicing in his whole world
and delighting in mankind.
32“Now then, my children, listen to me;
blessed are those who keep my ways.
33Listen to my instruction and be wise;
do not disregard it.
34Blessed are those who listen to me,
watching daily at my doors,
waiting at my doorway.
35For those who find me find life
and receive favor from the Lord.
36But those who fail to find me harm themselves;
all who hate me love death.”
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The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.
Proverbs 8
8
Wisdom Calls
1Does not wisdom call,
and understanding raise its voice?
2Atop the heights#Literally “At a head of the heights” beside the road,
at the crossroads she stands.
3Beside gates, before towns,
at the entrance of doors, she cries out:
4“To you, O people,#Literally “men” I call,
and my cry is to the children of humankind.
5Learn prudence, O simple ones;
fools, learn intelligence.#Literally “heart”
6Listen! For noble things I will speak,
and upright things from the opening of my lips.
7My mouth will utter truth,
and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8All sayings of my mouth are in righteousness;
none of them are twisted and crooked.
9All of them are straight to him who understands,
and upright to those who find knowledge.
10Take my teaching and not silver;
may you choose knowledge rather than choice gold.
11For wisdom is better than jewels,
and all desires shall not compare with her.
12I, wisdom, live with prudence,
and I find knowledge and discretion.
13The fear of Yahweh is hatred of evil,
pride, and arrogance and an evil way.
And I hate a mouth of perversity.
14Advice and sound judgment#Literally “To/for me are advice and sound judgment” are mine;
I am understanding, strength is mine.#Literally “to/for me is strength”
15By me kings reign,
and rulers decree righteousness.
16By me rulers rule,
and nobles—all judges of righteousness.
17I love those who love me,#Literally “her lovers”
and those who seek me diligently shall find me.
18Fortune and glory are with me,
enduring wealth and righteousness.
19My fruit is better than gold,#Literally “fine gold” even refined gold,
and my yield than choice silver.
20In the way of righteousness I walk,
in the midst of paths of justice,
21in order to endow those who love me with wealth,
and I will fill their treasuries.
Wisdom at Creation
22“Yahweh possessed#Or “gained,” or “acquired” me, the first of his ways,
before his acts of old.#Literally “from before” or “from then”
23From eternity, I was set up from the first,
from the beginning#Hebrew “beginnings” of the earth.
24When there were no depths, I was brought forth,
when there were no springs of abounding#Literally “made heavy” water.
25Before mountains had been shaped,
before hills, I was brought forth.
26When he had not yet made earth and fields,
or the first dust of the world,
27when he established#Literally “in his establishing” the heavens, there I was,
when he drew#Literally “in his drawing” a circle upon the face of the deep,
28when he made#Literally “in his making” skies from above,
when he founded fountains of the deep,
29when he assigned#Literally “in his assigning” his limits to the sea,
that waters shall not transgress his command,#Literally “mouth”
when he marked#Literally “in his marking” the foundations of the earth,
30I was beside#Literally “at the place of” him, a master workman,
and I was delighting day by day,
rejoicing before him always,#Literally “in all of time”
31rejoicing in the world of his earth,
and my delight was with the children of humankind.
Benefits of Following Wisdom
32“And now, children, listen to me;
happy are those who will keep my ways.
33Hear teaching and be wise;
do not neglect it.
34Happy is the person who listens to me,
in order to keep watch at my doors day by day,
in order to guard the frames of my entrances.
35For he who finds me is he who finds#Hebrew “those who find” life,
and he obtains favor from Yahweh.
36But he who misses me injures himself.#Or “soul,” or “inner self”
All those who hate me love death.”
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