Proverbs 8
8
Wisdom—the Good Woman
1Listen, Wisdom is calling.
Yes, Understanding is shouting for us.
2Wisdom stands at the top of the hill,
by the road where the paths meet.
3She is near the entrance to the city,
calling from the open gates.
4“I am calling out to all of you.
I am speaking to everyone.
5You who are ignorant, learn to be wise.
You who are foolish, get some common sense.
6Listen, I have something important to say,
and I am telling you what is right.
7My words are true,
and I will not say anything that is wrong.
8Everything I say is right;
there is nothing false or crooked about it.
9These things are clear to any intelligent person.
They are right to anyone with knowledge.
10Choose discipline over silver
and knowledge over the finest gold.
11Wisdom is better than pearls,
and nothing you desire compares with her.
The Value of Wisdom
12“I am Wisdom.
I live with Good Judgment.
I am at home with Knowledge and Planning.
13To respect the Lord means to hate evil.
I hate pride and boasting,
evil lives and hurtful words.
14I have good advice and common sense to offer.
I have understanding and power.
15With my help kings rule,
and governors make good laws.
16With my help leaders govern,
and important officials make good decisions.#8:16 and important … decisions The Greek version and some Hebrew copies have “as well as important officials, all the judges on earth.”
17I love those who love me,
and those who look for me will find me.
18With me there are riches and honor.
I have lasting wealth to give to you.
19What I give is better than fine gold.
What I produce is better than pure silver.
20I lead people the right way—
along the paths of justice.
21I give riches to those who love me,
and I fill their houses with treasures.
22“The Lord made me in the beginning,
long before he did anything else.
23I was formed a long time ago,
before the world was made.
24I was born before there was an ocean,
before the springs began to flow.
25I was born before the mountains and hills
were set into place,
26before the earth and fields were made,
before the dust of this world was formed.
27I was there when he set up the skies,
when he drew a circle in the ocean to make a place for the land.
28I was there when he put the clouds in the sky
and made the deep springs flow.
29I was there when he set the limits on the sea
to make it stop where he said.
I was there when he laid the foundations of the earth.
30I grew up as a child by his side,#8:30 I grew … his side Or “I was beside him like a skilled worker.”
laughing and playing all the time.
31I played in the world he made
and enjoyed the people he put there.
32“Now, children, listen to me.
If you follow my ways,
you will be happy too.
33Listen to my teaching and be wise;
don’t ignore what I say.
34Whoever waits at my door
and listens for me will be blessed.
35Those who find me find life,
and the Lord will reward them.
36But those who do not find me put their lives in danger.
Whoever hates me loves death.”
Currently Selected:
Proverbs 8: ERV
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
© 1987, 2004 Bible League International
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.”
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.