Proverbs 8
8
Wisdom Calls for a Hearing
1Listen as Wisdom calls out!
Hear as understanding raises her voice!
2On the hilltop along the road,
she takes her stand at the crossroads.
3By the gates at the entrance to the town,
on the road leading in, she cries aloud,
4“I call to you, to all of you!
I raise my voice to all people.
5You simple people, use good judgment.
You foolish people, show some understanding.
6Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you.
Everything I say is right,
7for I speak the truth
and detest every kind of deception.
8My advice is wholesome.
There is nothing devious or crooked in it.
9My words are plain to anyone with understanding,
clear to those with knowledge.
10Choose my instruction rather than silver,
and knowledge rather than pure gold.
11For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies.
Nothing you desire can compare with it.
12“I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment.
I know where to discover knowledge and discernment.
13All who fear the Lord will hate evil.
Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance,
corruption and perverse speech.
14Common sense and success belong to me.
Insight and strength are mine.
15Because of me, kings reign,
and rulers make just decrees.
16Rulers lead with my help,
and nobles make righteous judgments.#8:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Greek version read and nobles are judges over the earth.
17“I love all who love me.
Those who search will surely find me.
18I have riches and honor,
as well as enduring wealth and justice.
19My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold,
my wages better than sterling silver!
20I walk in righteousness,
in paths of justice.
21Those who love me inherit wealth.
I will fill their treasuries.
22“The Lord formed me from the beginning,
before he created anything else.
23I was appointed in ages past,
at the very first, before the earth began.
24I was born before the oceans were created,
before the springs bubbled forth their waters.
25Before the mountains were formed,
before the hills, I was born—
26before he had made the earth and fields
and the first handfuls of soil.
27I was there when he established the heavens,
when he drew the horizon on the oceans.
28I was there when he set the clouds above,
when he established springs deep in the earth.
29I was there when he set the limits of the seas,
so they would not spread beyond their boundaries.
And when he marked off the earth’s foundations,
30I was the architect at his side.
I was his constant delight,
rejoicing always in his presence.
31And how happy I was with the world he created;
how I rejoiced with the human family!
32“And so, my children,#8:32 Hebrew my sons. listen to me,
for all who follow my ways are joyful.
33Listen to my instruction and be wise.
Don’t ignore it.
34Joyful are those who listen to me,
watching for me daily at my gates,
waiting for me outside my home!
35For whoever finds me finds life
and receives favor from the Lord.
36But those who miss me injure themselves.
All who hate me love death.”
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Proverbs 8: NLT
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Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation.
For more information about the NLT:
Proverbs 8
8
1Doesn’t wisdom cry out?
Doesn’t understanding raise her voice?
2On the top of high places by the way,
where the paths meet, she stands.
3Beside the gates, at the entry of the city,
at the entry doors, she cries aloud:
4“I call to you men!
I send my voice to the sons of mankind.
5You simple, understand prudence!
You fools, be of an understanding heart!
6Hear, for I will speak excellent things.
The opening of my lips is for right things.
7For my mouth speaks truth.
Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8All the words of my mouth are in righteousness.
There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
9They are all plain to him who understands,
right to those who find knowledge.
10Receive my instruction rather than silver,
knowledge rather than choice gold.
11For wisdom is better than rubies.
All the things that may be desired can’t be compared to it.
12“I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling.
Find out knowledge and discretion.
13The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil.
I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.
14Counsel and sound knowledge are mine.
I have understanding and power.
15By me kings reign,
and princes decree justice.
16By me princes rule,
nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth.
17I love those who love me.
Those who seek me diligently will find me.
18With me are riches, honor,
enduring wealth, and prosperity.
19My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold,
my yield than choice silver.
20I walk in the way of righteousness,
in the middle of the paths of justice,
21that I may give wealth to those who love me.
I fill their treasuries.
22“Yahweh possessed me in the beginning of his work,
before his deeds of old.
23I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning,
before the earth existed.
24When there were no depths, I was born,
when there were no springs abounding with water.
25Before the mountains were settled in place,
before the hills, I was born;
26while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields,
nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
27When he established the heavens, I was there.
When he set a circle on the surface of the deep,
28when he established the clouds above,
when the springs of the deep became strong,
29when he gave to the sea its boundary,
that the waters should not violate his commandment,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
30then I was the craftsman by his side.
I was a delight day by day,
always rejoicing before him,
31rejoicing in his whole world.
My delight was with the sons of men.
32“Now therefore, my sons, listen to me,
for blessed are those who keep my ways.
33Hear instruction, and be wise.
Don’t refuse it.
34Blessed is the man who hears me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting at my door posts.
35For whoever finds me finds life,
and will obtain favor from Yahweh.
36But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul.
All those who hate me love death.”
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