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
Wisdom Calls
1Does not wisdom call,
and understanding raise its voice?
2Atop the heights#Literally “At a head of the heights” beside the road,
at the crossroads she stands.
3Beside gates, before towns,
at the entrance of doors, she cries out:
4“To you, O people,#Literally “men” I call,
and my cry is to the children of humankind.
5Learn prudence, O simple ones;
fools, learn intelligence.#Literally “heart”
6Listen! For noble things I will speak,
and upright things from the opening of my lips.
7My mouth will utter truth,
and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8All sayings of my mouth are in righteousness;
none of them are twisted and crooked.
9All of them are straight to him who understands,
and upright to those who find knowledge.
10Take my teaching and not silver;
may you choose knowledge rather than choice gold.
11For wisdom is better than jewels,
and all desires shall not compare with her.
12I, wisdom, live with prudence,
and I find knowledge and discretion.
13The fear of Yahweh is hatred of evil,
pride, and arrogance and an evil way.
And I hate a mouth of perversity.
14Advice and sound judgment#Literally “To/for me are advice and sound judgment” are mine;
I am understanding, strength is mine.#Literally “to/for me is strength”
15By me kings reign,
and rulers decree righteousness.
16By me rulers rule,
and nobles—all judges of righteousness.
17I love those who love me,#Literally “her lovers”
and those who seek me diligently shall find me.
18Fortune and glory are with me,
enduring wealth and righteousness.
19My fruit is better than gold,#Literally “fine gold” even refined gold,
and my yield than choice silver.
20In the way of righteousness I walk,
in the midst of paths of justice,
21in order to endow those who love me with wealth,
and I will fill their treasuries.
Wisdom at Creation
22“Yahweh possessed#Or “gained,” or “acquired” me, the first of his ways,
before his acts of old.#Literally “from before” or “from then”
23From eternity, I was set up from the first,
from the beginning#Hebrew “beginnings” of the earth.
24When there were no depths, I was brought forth,
when there were no springs of abounding#Literally “made heavy” water.
25Before mountains had been shaped,
before hills, I was brought forth.
26When he had not yet made earth and fields,
or the first dust of the world,
27when he established#Literally “in his establishing” the heavens, there I was,
when he drew#Literally “in his drawing” a circle upon the face of the deep,
28when he made#Literally “in his making” skies from above,
when he founded fountains of the deep,
29when he assigned#Literally “in his assigning” his limits to the sea,
that waters shall not transgress his command,#Literally “mouth”
when he marked#Literally “in his marking” the foundations of the earth,
30I was beside#Literally “at the place of” him, a master workman,
and I was delighting day by day,
rejoicing before him always,#Literally “in all of time”
31rejoicing in the world of his earth,
and my delight was with the children of humankind.
Benefits of Following Wisdom
32“And now, children, listen to me;
happy are those who will keep my ways.
33Hear teaching and be wise;
do not neglect it.
34Happy is the person who listens to me,
in order to keep watch at my doors day by day,
in order to guard the frames of my entrances.
35For he who finds me is he who finds#Hebrew “those who find” life,
and he obtains favor from Yahweh.
36But he who misses me injures himself.#Or “soul,” or “inner self”
All those who hate me love death.”
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