Proverbs 8

Wisdom Appeals at the Gates

1Does not wisdom cry out, and understanding lift her voice?

2On the topmost heights along the way, at the crossroads, she takes her stand.

3Beside the gates leading into the city, at the entrances, she cries aloud:

4“To you, O men, I call out! My cry is to all mankind!

5O naïve ones, learn prudence! Fools, gain understanding!

6Listen, for I speak excellent things, and my lips utter right things.

7For my mouth speaks truth, and my lips detest wickedness.

8All the words of my mouth are righteous, Nothing in them is perverse or crooked.

9All of them are straightforward to the discerning, and right to those who find knowledge.

10Receive my instruction instead of silver and knowledge rather than choice gold.

11For wisdom is better than jewels, nothing you desire compares with her.

12“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and acquire knowledge with discretion.

13To fear Adonai is to hate evil. I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and a perverse mouth.

14Counsel and sound wisdom are mine. I have understanding and power.

15By me kings reign and princes decree justice.

16By me princes govern, and all nobles who judge righteously.

17I love those who love me. Those who earnestly seek me find me.

18With me are wealth and honor, enduring riches and righteousness.

19My fruit is better than refined gold, my harvest better than choice silver.

20I walk in the way of righteousness, along paths of justice.

21I endow substance to those who love me and fill their treasuries.

Wisdom Before Creation

22“Adonai brought me forth, the first of His way, before His works of old.

23From eternity I was appointed from the beginning, before the world began.

24When there were no depths, I was brought forth, when there were no fountains abounding with water.

25Before the mountains were shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth.

26He had not yet made the land, the fields, or the first dust of the earth.

27 When He set the heavens in place, I was there. When He inscribed the horizon on the face of the ocean,

28when He established the skies above, when He securely fixed the fountains of the deep,

29when He set the boundaries for the sea, so that the waters never transgress His command, when He laid out earth’s foundations—

30then I was the craftsman beside Him, I was His daily delight, always rejoicing before Him,

31 rejoicing in His whole world, and delighting in mankind.

32“So now, children, listen to me! Blessed are those who keep my ways.

33Heed discipline and be wise, and do not neglect it.

34Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my doorposts.

35For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from Adonai.

36But whoever fails to find me harms his life— all who hate me love death.”

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Proverbs 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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