Proverbs 8
8
1 DOES NOT skillful and godly Wisdom cry out, and understanding raise her voice [in contrast to the loose woman]?
2 On the top of the heights beside the way, where the paths meet, stands Wisdom [skillful and godly];
3 At the gates at the entrance of the town, at the coming in at the doors, she cries out:
4 To you, O men, I call, and my voice is directed to the sons of men.
5 O you simple and thoughtless ones, understand prudence; you [self-confident] fools, be of an understanding heart. [Isa. 32:6.]
6 Hear, for I will speak excellent and princely things; and the opening of my lips shall be for right things.
7 For my mouth shall utter truth, and wrongdoing is detestable and loathsome to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are righteous (upright and in right standing with God); there is nothing contrary to truth or crooked in them.
9 They are all plain to him who understands [and opens his heart], and right to those who find knowledge [and live by it].
10 Receive my instruction in preference to [striving for] silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold,
11 For skillful and godly Wisdom is better than rubies or pearls, and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. [Job 28:15; Ps. 19:10; 119:127.]
12 I, Wisdom [from God], make prudence my dwelling, and I find out knowledge and discretion. [James 1:5.]
13 The reverent fear and worshipful awe of the Lord [includes] the hatred of evil; pride, arrogance, the evil way, and perverted and twisted speech I hate.
14 I have counsel and sound knowledge, I have understanding, I have might and power.
15 By me kings reign and rulers decree justice. [Dan. 2:21; Rom. 13:1.]
16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges and governors of the earth.
17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me early and diligently shall find me. [I Sam. 2:30; Ps. 91:14; John 14:21; James 1:5.]
18 Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness (uprightness in every area and relation, and right standing with God). [Prov. 3:16; Matt. 6:33.]
19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than refined gold, and my increase than choice silver.
20 I [Wisdom] walk in the way of righteousness (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation), in the midst of the paths of justice,
21 That I may cause those who love me to inherit [true] riches and that I may fill their treasuries.
22 The Lord formed and brought me [Wisdom] forth at the beginning of His way, before His acts of old.
23 I [Wisdom] was inaugurated and ordained from everlasting, from the beginning, before ever the earth existed. [John 1:1; I Cor. 1:24.]
24 When there were no deeps, I was brought forth, when there were no fountains laden with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth, [Job 15:7, 8.]
26 While as yet He had not made the land or the fields or the first of the dust of the earth.
27 When He prepared the heavens, I [Wisdom] was there; when He drew a circle upon the face of the deep and stretched out the firmament over it,
28 When He made firm the skies above, when He established the fountains of the deep,
29 When He gave to the sea its limit and His decree that the waters should not transgress [across the boundaries set by] His command, when He appointed the foundations of the earth–[Job 38:10, 11; Ps. 104:6-9; Jer. 5:22.]
30 Then I [Wisdom] was beside Him as a master and director of the work; and I was daily His delight, rejoicing before Him always, [Matt. 3:17; John 1:2, 18.]
31 Rejoicing in His inhabited earth and delighting in the sons of men. [Ps. 16:3.]
32 Now therefore listen to me, O you sons; for blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are those who keep my ways. [Ps. 119:1, 2; 128:1, 2; Luke 11:28.]
33 Hear instruction and be wise, and do not refuse or neglect it.
34 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 For whoever finds me [Wisdom] finds life and draws forth and obtains favor from the Lord.
36 But he who misses me or sins against me wrongs and injures himself; all who hate me love and court death.
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1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
Proverbs 8
8
Wisdom and Folly
1Doth not wisdom cry?
And understanding put forth her voice?
2She standeth in the top of high places, by the way
In the places of the paths.
3She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city,
At the coming in at the doors.
4Unto you, O men, I call;
And my voice is to the sons of man.
5O ye simple, understand wisdom:
And, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
6Hear; for I will speak of excellent things;
And the opening of my lips shall be right things.
7For my mouth shall speak truth;
And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8All the words of my mouth are in righteousness;
There is nothing froward or perverse in them.
9They are all plain to him that understandeth,
And right to them that find knowledge.
10Receive my instruction, and not silver;
And knowledge rather than choice gold.
11For wisdom is better than rubies;
And all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
12I wisdom dwell with prudence,
And find out knowledge of witty inventions.
13The fear of the LORD is to hate evil:
Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way,
And the froward mouth, do I hate.
14Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom:
I am understanding; I have strength.
15By me kings reign,
And princes decree justice.
16By me princes rule,
And nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17I love them that love me;
And those that seek me early shall find me.
18Riches and honour are with me;
Yea, durable riches and righteousness.
19My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold;
And my revenue than choice silver.
20I lead in the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of judgment:
21That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance;
And I will fill their treasures.
22The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way,
Before his works of old.
23I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning,
Or ever the earth was.
24When there were no depths, I was brought forth;
When there were no fountains abounding with water.
25Before the mountains were settled,
Before the hills was I brought forth:
26While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields,
Nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
27When he prepared the heavens, I was there:
When he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
28When he established the clouds above:
When he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
29When he gave to the sea his decree,
That the waters should not pass his commandment:
When he appointed the foundations of the earth:
30Then I was by him, as one brought up with him:
And I was daily his delight,
Rejoicing always before him;
31Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth;
And my delights were with the sons of men.
32Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children:
For blessed are they that keep my ways.
33Hear instruction, and be wise,
And refuse it not.
34Blessed is the man that heareth me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at the posts of my doors.
35For whoso findeth me findeth life,
And shall obtain favour of the LORD.
36But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul:
All they that hate me love death.
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