Proverbs — Chapter 8

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.

1Doth not wisdom cry, And understanding put forth her voice?

2On the top of high places by the way, Where the paths meet, she standeth;

3Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, At the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud:

4Unto you, O men, I call; And my voice is to the sons of men.

5O ye simple, understand prudence; And, ye fools, be of an understanding heart.

6Hear, for I will speak excellent things; And the opening of my lips shall be right things.

7For my mouth shall utter truth; And 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 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 unto it.

12I wisdom have made prudence my dwelling, And find out knowledge [and] discretion.

13The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil: Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, And the perverse mouth, do I hate.

14Counsel is mine, and sound knowledge: I am understanding; I have might.

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 diligently shall find me.

18Riches and honor are with me; [Yea], durable wealth and righteousness.

19My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; And my revenue than choice silver.

20I walk in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice;

21That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, And that I may fill their treasuries.

22Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, Before his works of old.

23I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, Before 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 beginning of the dust of the world.

27When he established the heavens, I was there: When he set a circle upon the face of the deep,

28When he made firm the skies above, When the fountains of the deep became strong,

29When he gave to the sea its bound, That the waters should not transgress his commandment, When he marked out the foundations of the earth;

30Then I was by him, [as] a master workman; And I was daily [his] delight, Rejoicing always before him,

31Rejoicing in his habitable earth; And my delight was with the sons of men.

32Now therefore, [my] sons, hearken unto me; 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 favor of Jehovah.

36But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: All they that hate me love death.

1Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?

2At the top of the prominent places along the way, at the intersection of the paths she has taken her stand;

3beside the gates opening into the city, at the entrance of the doorways she cries out:

4“To you, O people, I call out, and my voice calls to all mankind.

5You who are naive, discern wisdom! And you fools, understand discernment!

6Listen, for I will speak excellent things, and my lips will utter what is right.

7For my mouth speaks truth, and my lips hate wickedness.

8All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing in them twisted or crooked.

9All of them are clear to the discerning and upright to those who find knowledge.

10Receive my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold.

11For wisdom is better than rubies, and desirable things cannot be compared to her.

12“I, wisdom, have dwelt with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.

13The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride and the evil way and perverse utterances.

14Counsel and sound wisdom belong to me; I possess understanding and might.

15By me, kings reign, and by me, potentates decree righteousness;

16by me, princes rule, as well as nobles and all righteous judges.

17I will love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me.

18Riches and honor are with me, long-lasting wealth and righteousness.

19My fruit is better than the purest gold, and my harvest is better than choice silver.

20I walk in the path of righteousness, in the pathway of justice,

21that I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, and that I may fill their treasuries.

22The Lord created me as the beginning of his works, before his deeds of long ago.

23From eternity I have been fashioned, from the beginning, from before the world existed.

24When there were no deep oceans I was born, when there were no springs overflowing with water;

25before the mountains were set in place— before the hills—I was born,

26before he made the earth and its fields, or the top soil of the world.

27When he established the heavens, I was there; when he marked out the horizon over the face of the deep,

28when he established the clouds above, when he secured the fountains of the deep,

29when he gave the sea his decree that the waters should not pass over his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,

30then I was beside him as a master craftsman, and I was his delight day by day, rejoicing before him at all times,

31rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth, and delighting in its people.

32“So now, children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.

33Listen to my instruction so that you may be wise, and do not neglect it.

34Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching at my doors day by day, waiting beside my doorway.

35For the one who finds me has found life and received favor from the Lord.

36But the one who misses me brings harm to himself; all who hate me love death.”

1Doesn’t wisdom cry out? Doesn’t understanding raise her voice?

2On the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she stands.

3Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entry doors, she cries aloud:

4“To you men, I call! I send my voice to the sons of mankind.

5You simple, understand prudence. You fools, be of an understanding heart.

6Hear, for I will speak excellent things. The opening of my lips is for right things.

7For my mouth speaks truth. 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, right to those who find knowledge.

10Receive my instruction rather than silver; knowledge rather than choice gold.

11For wisdom is better than rubies. All the things that may be desired can’t be compared to it.

12“I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling. Find out knowledge and discretion.

13The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.

14Counsel and sound knowledge are mine. I have understanding and power.

15By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.

16By me princes rule; nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth.

17I love those who love me. Those who seek me diligently will find me.

18With me are riches, honor, enduring wealth, and prosperity.

19My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold; my yield than choice silver.

20I walk in the way of righteousness, in the middle of the paths of justice;

21that I may give wealth to those who love me. I fill their treasuries.

22“Yahweh possessed me in the beginning of his work, before his deeds of old.

23I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, before the earth existed.

24When there were no depths, I was born, when there were no springs abounding with water.

25Before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was born;

26while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.

27When he established the heavens, I was there; when he set a circle on the surface of the deep,

28when he established the clouds above, when the springs of the deep became strong,

29when he gave to the sea its boundary, that the waters should not violate his commandment, when he marked out the foundations of the earth;

30then I was the craftsman by his side. I was a delight day by day, always rejoicing before him,

31rejoicing in his whole world. My delight was with the sons of men.

32“Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.

33Hear instruction, and be wise. Don’t refuse it.

34Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my door posts.

35For whoever finds me, finds life, and will obtain favor from Yahweh.

36But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death.”