Proverbs 8:17-35 - Compare All Versions

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I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me and making their treasuries full. “The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be. When there were no watery depths, I was given birth, when there were no springs overflowing with water; before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth, before he made the world or its fields or any of the dust of the earth. I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep, when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth. Then I was constantly at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence, rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind. “Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it. Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For those who find me find life and receive favor from the LORD.

I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me. Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice, granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries. “The LORD possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth, before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world. When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man. “And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD

“I love all who love me. Those who search will surely find me. I have riches and honor, as well as enduring wealth and justice. My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold, my wages better than sterling silver! I walk in righteousness, in paths of justice. Those who love me inherit wealth. I will fill their treasuries. “The LORD formed me from the beginning, before he created anything else. I was appointed in ages past, at the very first, before the earth began. I was born before the oceans were created, before the springs bubbled forth their waters. Before the mountains were formed, before the hills, I was born— before he had made the earth and fields and the first handfuls of soil. I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew the horizon on the oceans. I was there when he set the clouds above, when he established springs deep in the earth. I was there when he set the limits of the seas, so they would not spread beyond their boundaries. And when he marked off the earth’s foundations, I was the architect at his side. I was his constant delight, rejoicing always in his presence. And how happy I was with the world he created; how I rejoiced with the human family! “And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful. Listen to my instruction and be wise. Don’t ignore it. Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home! For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD.

I love those who love me,  and those who search for me find me.  With me are riches and honor,  lasting wealth and righteousness.  My fruit is better than solid gold, and my harvest than pure silver.  I walk in the ways of righteousness, along the paths of justice, giving wealth as an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries. “The LORD acquired   me at the beginning of his creation,  before his works of long ago.  I was formed  before ancient times, from the beginning, before the earth began.  I was born when there were no watery depths  and no springs filled with water. Before the mountains were established, prior to the hills,  I was given birth — before he made the land, the fields, or the first soil on earth. I was there when he established the heavens,  when he laid out the horizon on the surface of the ocean,  when he placed the skies above, when the fountains of the ocean gushed out, when he set a limit for the sea so that the waters would not violate his command,  when he laid out the foundations of the earth.  I was a skilled craftsman  beside him.  I was his  delight every day, always rejoicing before him. I was rejoicing in his inhabited world,  delighting in the children of Adam.  “And now, sons, listen to me; those who keep my ways are happy.  Listen to instruction and be wise;  don’t ignore it. Anyone who listens to me is happy,  watching at my doors every day, waiting by the posts of my doorway. For the one who finds me finds life  and obtains favor from the  LORD

I love them that love me; And those that seek me early shall find me. Riches and honour are with me; Yea, durable riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; And my revenue than choice silver. I lead in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of judgment: That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; And I will fill their treasures. The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, Before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, Or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; When there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills was I brought forth: While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, Nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: When he set a compass upon the face of the depth: When he established the clouds above: When he strengthened the fountains of the deep: When he gave to the sea his decree, That the waters should not pass his commandment: When he appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: And I was daily his delight, Rejoicing always before him; Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; And my delights were with the sons of men. Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: For blessed are they that keep my ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, And refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, And shall obtain favour of the LORD.

I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me. Riches and honor are with me, Enduring riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, And my revenue than choice silver. I traverse the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice, That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, That I may fill their treasuries. “The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old. I have been established from everlasting, From the beginning, before there was ever an earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills, I was brought forth; While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields, Or the primal dust of the world. When He prepared the heavens, I was there, When He drew a circle on the face of the deep, When He established the clouds above, When He strengthened the fountains of the deep, When He assigned to the sea its limit, So that the waters would not transgress His command, When He marked out the foundations of the earth, Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him, Rejoicing in His inhabited world, And my delight was with the sons of men. “Now therefore, listen to me, my children, For blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, And do not disdain it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the LORD

“I am Lady Wisdom, and I live next to Sanity; Knowledge and Discretion live just down the street. The Fear-of-GOD means hating Evil, whose ways I hate with a passion— pride and arrogance and crooked talk. Good counsel and common sense are my characteristics; I am both Insight and the Virtue to live it out. With my help, leaders rule, and lawmakers legislate fairly; With my help, governors govern, along with all in legitimate authority. I love those who love me; those who look for me find me. Wealth and Glory accompany me— also substantial Honor and a Good Name. My benefits are worth more than a big salary, even a very big salary; the returns on me exceed any imaginable bonus. You can find me on Righteous Road—that’s where I walk— at the intersection of Justice Avenue, Handing out life to those who love me, filling their arms with life—armloads of life! “GOD sovereignly made me—the first, the basic— before he did anything else. I was brought into being a long time ago, well before Earth got its start. I arrived on the scene before Ocean, yes, even before Springs and Rivers and Lakes. Before Mountains were sculpted and Hills took shape, I was already there, newborn; Long before GOD stretched out Earth’s Horizons, and tended to the minute details of Soil and Weather, And set Sky firmly in place, I was there. When he mapped and gave borders to wild Ocean, built the vast vault of Heaven, and installed the fountains that fed Ocean, When he drew a boundary for Sea, posted a sign that said NO TRESPASSING, And then staked out Earth’s Foundations, I was right there with him, making sure everything fit. Day after day I was there, with my joyful applause, always enjoying his company, Delighted with the world of things and creatures, happily celebrating the human family. “So, my dear friends, listen carefully; those who embrace these my ways are most blessed. Mark a life of discipline and live wisely; don’t squander your precious life. Blessed the man, blessed the woman, who listens to me, awake and ready for me each morning, alert and responsive as I start my day’s work. When you find me, you find life, real life, to say nothing of GOD’s good pleasure. But if you wrong me, you damage your very soul; when you reject me, you’re flirting with death.”

“I love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me. “Riches and honor are with me, Enduring wealth and righteousness. “My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold; And my yield better than choice silver. “I walk in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice, To endow those who love me with wealth, That I may fill their treasuries. ¶“The LORD created me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old. “From eternity I was established, From the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth. “When there were no ocean depths, I was born, When there were no springs abounding with water. “Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills, I was born; While He had not yet made the earth and the fields, Nor the first dust of the world. “When He established the heavens, I was there; When He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep, When He made firm the skies above, When the springs of the deep became fixed, When He set a boundary for the sea So that the water would not violate His command, When He marked out the foundations of the earth; Then I was beside Him, as a master workman; And I was His delight daily, Rejoicing always before Him, Rejoicing in the world, His earth, And having my delight in the sons of mankind. ¶“Now then, sons, listen to me, For blessed are those who keep my ways. “Listen to instruction and be wise, And do not neglect it. “Blessed is the person who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at my doorposts. “For one who finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the LORD.

“I love those who love me; And those who seek me early and diligently will find me. [1 Sam 2:30; Ps 91:14; John 14:21; James 1:5] “Riches and honor are with me, Enduring wealth and righteousness (right standing with God). [Prov 3:16; Matt 6:33] “My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold, And my yield is better than choicest silver. “I, [Wisdom, continuously] walk in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice, That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth and true riches, And that I may fill their treasuries. ¶“The LORD created and possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old [were accomplished]. “From everlasting I was established and ordained, From the beginning, before the earth existed, [I, godly wisdom, existed]. [John 1:1; 1 Cor 1:24] “When there were no ocean depths I was born, When there were no fountains and springs overflowing with water. “Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills, I was born; [Job 15:7, 8] While He had not yet made the earth and the fields, Or the first of the dust of the earth. “When He established the heavens, I [Wisdom] was there; When He drew a circle upon the face of the deep, When He made firm the skies above, When the fountains and springs of the deep became fixed and strong, When He set for the sea its boundary So that the waters would not transgress [the boundaries set by] His command, When He marked out the foundations of the earth— [Job 38:10, 11; Ps 104:6-9; Jer 5:22] Then I was beside Him, as a master craftsman; And I was daily His delight; Rejoicing before Him always, [Matt 3:17; John 1:2, 18] Rejoicing in the world, His inhabited earth, And having my delight in the sons of men. [Ps 16:3] ¶“Now therefore, O sons, listen to me, For blessed [happy, prosperous, to be admired] are they who keep my ways. [Ps 119:1, 2; 128:1, 2; Luke 11:28] “Heed (pay attention to) instruction and be wise, And do not ignore or neglect it. “Blessed [happy, prosperous, to be admired] is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at my doorposts. “For whoever finds me (Wisdom) finds life And obtains favor and grace from the LORD.

I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. Riches and honor are with me, long-lasting wealth and righteousness. My fruit is better than the purest gold, and what I produce is better than choice silver. I walk in the path of righteousness, in the pathway of justice, that I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, and that I may fill their treasuries. The LORD created me as the beginning of his works, before his deeds of long ago. From eternity I was appointed, from the beginning, from before the world existed. When there were no deep oceans I was born, when there were no springs overflowing with water; before the mountains were set in place – before the hills – I was born, before he made the earth and its fields, or the beginning of the dust of the world. When he established the heavens, I was there; when he marked out the horizon over the face of the deep, when he established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep grew strong, when he gave the sea his decree that the waters should not pass over his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside him as a master craftsman, and I was his delight day by day, rejoicing before him at all times, rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth, and delighting in its people. “So now, children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction so that you may be wise, and do not neglect it. Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching at my doors day by day, waiting beside my doorway. For the one who finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD.