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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GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 8
8
1Doth not wisdom cry aloud, and prudence put forth her voice?
2Standing in the top of the highest places by the way, in the midst of the paths.
3Beside the gates of the city, in the very doors she speaketh, saying:
4O ye men, to you I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.
5O little ones, understand subtilty, and ye unwise, take notice.
6Hear, for I will speak of great things: and my lips shall be opened to preach right things.
7My mouth shall meditate truth, and my lips shall hate wickedness.
8All my words are just, there is nothing wicked nor perverse in them.
9They are right to them that understand, and just to them that find knowledge.
10Receive my instruction, and not money: choose knowledge rather than gold.
11For wisdom is better than all the most precious things: and whatsoever may be desired cannot be compared to it.
12I wisdom dwell in counsel, and am present in learned thoughts.
13The fear of the Lord hateth evil: I hate arrogance, and pride, and every wicked way, and a mouth with a double tongue.
14Counsel and equity is mine, prudence is mine, strength is mine.
15By me kings reign, and lawgivers decree just things,
16By me princes rule, and the mighty decree justice.
17I love them that love me: and they that in the morning early watch for me, shall find me.
18With me are riches and glory, glorious riches and justice.
19For my fruit is better than gold and the precious stone, and my blossoms than choice silver.
20I walk in the way of justice, in the midst of the paths of judgment,
21That I may enrich them that love me, and may fill their treasures.
22The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his ways, before he made any thing from the beginning.
23I was set up from eternity, and of old before the earth was made.
24The depths were not as yet, and I was already conceived, neither had the fountains of waters as yet sprung out:
25The mountains with their huge bulk had not as yet been established: before the hills I was brought forth:
26He had not yet made the earth, nor the rivers, nor the poles of the world.
27When he prepared the heavens, I was present: when with a certain law and compass he enclosed the depths:
28When he established the sky above, and poised the fountains of waters:
29When he compassed the sea with its bounds, and set a law to the waters that they should not pass their limits: when he balanced the foundations of the earth;
30I was with him forming all things: and was delighted every day, playing before him at all times;
31Playing in the world: and my delights were to be with the children of men.
32Now therefore, ye children, hear me: Blessed are they that keep my ways.
33Hear instruction and be wise, and refuse it not.
34Blessed is the man that heareth me, and that watcheth daily at my gates, and waiteth at the posts of my doors.
35He that shall find me, shall find life, and shall have salvation from the Lord:
36But he that shall sin against me, shall hurt his own soul. All that hate me love death.
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An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.