Proverbs 8
8
The Gifts of Wisdom
1Does not wisdom cry out
and understanding raise her voice? # Pr 1:20–21
2On top of the heights beside the way,
where the paths meet, she takes her stand.
3Beside the gates in front of the city, # Job 29:7
at the entrance of the doors she cries out:
4“To you, O men, I call,
and my cry is to the sons of men.
5O you simple ones, # Pr 1:4, 22 understand prudence;
and you fools, be of an understanding heart.
6Listen, for I will speak excellent things,
and the opening of my lips will disclose right things,
7for my mouth will speak truth; # Ps 37:30; Jn 8:14
wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8All the words of my mouth are in righteousness;
there is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
9They are all plain to him who understands,
and right to those who find knowledge. # Pr 14:6
10Receive my instruction instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than choice gold, # Ps 119:72, 127
11for wisdom is better than jewels, # Job 28:15–19
and nothing you may desire can compare with her.
12“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
and I attain knowledge and discretion. # Pr 1:4
13The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; # Ps 97:10; Pr 16:6
pride and arrogance
and the evil way and perverse speech do I hate.
14Counsel and sound wisdom are mine; # Ecc 7:19
I have understanding; I have power.
15By me kings reign,
and rulers decree justice; # Da 2:21; Ro 13:1
16by me princes rule,
and nobles, all who govern rightly.
17I love those who love me, # 1Sa 2:30; Jn 14:21
and those who seek me diligently will find me.
18Riches and honor are with me, # Pr 3:16
enduring wealth and righteousness. # Mt 6:33
19My fruit is better than gold,
even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver. # Pr 3:14; 8:10
20I walk in the way of righteousness,
in the paths of justice,
21endowing those who love me with wealth,
that I may fill their treasuries.
22“The Lord created me at the beginning of His work,
before His works of old.
23Ages ago I was established,
at the beginning, before the earth existed.
24When there were no depths I was brought forth,
when there were no springs abounding with water.
25Before the mountains were settled,
before the hills, I was brought forth, # Ps 90:2
26before He had made the earth or the fields
or the first dust of the world.
27When He established the heavens, # Pr 3:19 I was there;
when He drew a circle on the face of the deep, # Isa 40:22
28when He made firm the skies above,
when He established the fountains of the deep,
29when He assigned to the sea its boundary,
so that the waters might not transgress His command, # Ge 1:9–10; Ps 104:9
when He marked out the foundations of the earth,
30then I was beside Him, like a master workman, # Jn 1:1–3
and I was daily His delight, # Mt 3:17
rejoicing always in His presence,
31rejoicing in His inhabited world
and delighting in the sons of men. # Ps 16:3
32“Now therefore, my sons, listen to me:
blessed are those who keep my ways. # Ps 119:1–2; Lk 11:28
33Listen to instruction # Pr 4:1 and be wise,
and do not neglect it.
34Blessed is the man who listens to me, # Pr 3:13
watching daily at my gates,
waiting at the posts of my doors.
35For whoever finds me finds life
and obtains favor from the Lord, # Pr 12:2
36but he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; # Pr 1:31; 15:32
all those who hate me love death.”
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Proverbs 8: MEV
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The Holy Bible, Modern English Version
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