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.
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Proverbs 8
8
Wisdom’s Announcement
1Does not wisdom call out?
Does not understanding raise its voice?
2 ⌞Wisdom⌟ takes its stand on high ground,
by the wayside where the roads meet,
3near the gates to the city.
At the entrance ⌞wisdom⌟ sings its song,
4“I am calling to all of you,
and my appeal is to all people.
5You gullible people, learn how to be sensible.
You fools, get a heart that has understanding.
6Listen! I am speaking about noble things,
and my lips will say what is right.
7My mouth expresses the truth,
and wickedness is disgusting to my lips.
8Everything I say is fair,
and there is nothing twisted or crooked in it.
9All of it is clear to a person who has understanding
and right to those who have acquired knowledge.
10Take my discipline, not silver,
and my knowledge rather than fine gold,
11because wisdom is better than jewels.
Nothing you desire can equal it.
Wisdom’s Authority
12“I, Wisdom, live with insight,
and I acquire knowledge and foresight.
13To fear the Lord is to hate evil.
I hate pride, arrogance, evil behavior, and twisted speech.
14Advice and priceless wisdom are mine.
I, Understanding, have strength.
15Through me kings reign,
and rulers decree fair laws.
16Through me princes rule,
so do nobles and all fair judges.
17I love those who love me.
Those eagerly looking for me will find me.
18I have riches and honor,
lasting wealth and righteousness.
19What I produce is better than gold, pure gold.
What I yield is better than fine silver.
20I walk in the way of righteousness, on the paths of justice,
21to give an inheritance to those who love me
and to fill their treasuries.
Wisdom as Creator
22“The Lord already possessed me long ago,
when his way began,
before any of his works.
23I was appointed from everlasting
from the first,
before the earth began.
24I was born
before there were oceans,
before there were springs filled with water.
25I was born
before the mountains were settled in their places
and before the hills,
26when he had not yet made land or fields
or the first dust of the world.
27“When he set up the heavens, I was there.
When he traced the horizon on the surface of the ocean,
28when he established the skies above,
when he determined the currents in the ocean,
29when he set a limit for the sea
so the waters would not overstep his command,
when he traced the foundations of the earth,
30I was beside him as a master craftsman.
I made him happy day after day,
I rejoiced in front of him all the time,
31found joy in his inhabited world, and delighted in the human race.
Wisdom as Lifegiver
32“Now, sons, listen to me.
Blessed are those who follow my ways.
33Listen to discipline, and become wise.
Do not leave my ways.
34Blessed is the person who listens to me,
watches at my door day after day,
and waits by my doorposts.
35Whoever finds me finds life
and obtains favor from the Lord.
36Whoever sins against me harms himself.
All those who hate me love death.”
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