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
Listen to Wisdom
1Wisdom calls to you like someone shouting;
understanding raises her voice.
2On the hilltops along the road
and at the crossroads, she stands calling.
3Beside the city gates,
at the entrances into the city, she calls out:
4“Listen, everyone, I’m calling out to you;
I am shouting to all people.
5You who are uneducated, seek wisdom.
You who are foolish, get understanding.
6Listen, because I have important things to say,
and what I tell you is right.
7What I say is true,
I refuse to speak evil.
8Everything I say is honest;
nothing I say is crooked or false.
9People with good sense know what I say is true;
and those with knowledge know my words are right.
10Choose my teachings instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than the finest gold.
11Wisdom is more precious than rubies.
Nothing you could want is equal to it.
12“I am wisdom, and I have good judgment.
I also have knowledge and good sense.
13If you respect the Lord, you will also hate evil.
I hate pride and bragging,
evil ways and lies.
14I have good sense and advice,
and I have understanding and power.
15I help kings to govern
and rulers to make fair laws.
16Princes use me to lead,
and so do all important people who judge fairly.
17I love those who love me,
and those who seek me find me.
18Riches and honor are mine to give.
So are wealth and lasting success.
19What I give is better than the finest gold,
better than the purest silver.
20I do what is right
and follow the path of justice.
21I give wealth to those who love me,
filling their houses with treasures.
22“I, wisdom, was with the Lord when he began his work,
long before he made anything else.
23I was created in the very beginning,
even before the world began.
24I was born before there were oceans,
or springs overflowing with water,
25before the hills were there,
before the mountains were put in place.
26God had not made the earth or fields,
not even the first dust of the earth.
27I was there when God put the skies in place,
when he stretched the horizon over the oceans,
28when he made the clouds above
and put the deep underground springs in place.
29I was there when he ordered the sea
not to go beyond the borders he had set.
I was there when he laid the earth’s foundation.
30I was like a child by his side.
I was delighted every day,
enjoying his presence all the time,
31enjoying the whole world,
and delighted with all its people.
32“Now, my children, listen to me,
because those who follow my ways are happy.
33Listen to my teaching, and you will be wise;
do not ignore it.
34Happy are those who listen to me,
watching at my door every day,
waiting at my open doorway.
35Those who find me find life,
and the Lord will be pleased with them.
36Those who do not find me hurt themselves.
Those who hate me love death.”
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The Holy Bible, New Century Version, Copyright © 2005 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.