Proverbs 8:22-36
English Standard Version
22 (A)“The Lord (B)possessed[a] me at the beginning of his work,[b]
the first of his acts (C)of old.
23 Ages ago I was (D)set up,
at the first, (E)before the beginning of the earth.
24 When there were no (F)depths I was (G)brought forth,
when there were no springs abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains (H)had been shaped,
(I)before the hills, I was brought forth,
26 before he had made the earth with its fields,
or the first of the dust of the world.
27 When he (J)established the heavens, I was there;
when he drew (K)a circle on the face of the deep,
28 when he (L)made firm the skies above,
when he established[c] the fountains of the deep,
29 when he (M)assigned to the sea its (N)limit,
so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out (O)the foundations of the earth,
30 then (P)I was beside him, like a master workman,
and I was daily his[d] (Q)delight,
rejoicing before him always,
31 (R)rejoicing in his (S)inhabited world
and delighting in the children of man.
32 “And now, (T)O sons, listen to me:
(U)blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 (V)Hear instruction and be wise,
and do not neglect it.
34 (W)Blessed is the one who listens to me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting beside my doors.
35 For (X)whoever finds me (Y)finds life
and (Z)obtains favor from the Lord,
36 but he who fails to find me (AA)injures himself;
all who (AB)hate me (AC)love death.”
Footnotes
- Proverbs 8:22 Or fathered; Septuagint created
- Proverbs 8:22 Hebrew way
- Proverbs 8:28 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
- Proverbs 8:30 Or daily filled with
Proverbs 8:22-36
New Living Translation
22 “The Lord formed me from the beginning,
before he created anything else.
23 I was appointed in ages past,
at the very first, before the earth began.
24 I was born before the oceans were created,
before the springs bubbled forth their waters.
25 Before the mountains were formed,
before the hills, I was born—
26 before he had made the earth and fields
and the first handfuls of soil.
27 I was there when he established the heavens,
when he drew the horizon on the oceans.
28 I was there when he set the clouds above,
when he established springs deep in the earth.
29 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,
30 I was the architect at his side.
I was his constant delight,
rejoicing always in his presence.
31 And how happy I was with the world he created;
how I rejoiced with the human family!
32 “And so, my children,[a] listen to me,
for all who follow my ways are joyful.
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise.
Don’t ignore it.
34 Joyful are those who listen to me,
watching for me daily at my gates,
waiting for me outside my home!
35 For whoever finds me finds life
and receives favor from the Lord.
36 But those who miss me injure themselves.
All who hate me love death.”
Footnotes
- 8:32 Hebrew my sons.
Proverbs 8:22-36
King James Version
22 The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:
26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord.
36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
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Proverbs 8:22-36
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
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.(A)
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,(B)
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—(C)
30 Then I [Wisdom] was [a]beside Him as a master and director of the work; and I was daily His delight, rejoicing before Him always,(D)
31 Rejoicing in His inhabited earth and delighting in the sons of men.(E)
32 Now therefore listen to me, O you sons; for blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are those who keep my ways.(F)
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.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Proverbs 8:30 See Wisdom here present and involved at creation as an attribute of God.
Proverbs 3:19-20
English Standard Version
19 (A)The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
by understanding (B)he established the heavens;
20 by his knowledge (C)the deeps broke open,
and (D)the clouds drop down the dew.
Proverbs 3:19-20
New Living Translation
19 By wisdom the Lord founded the earth;
by understanding he created the heavens.
20 By his knowledge the deep fountains of the earth burst forth,
and the dew settles beneath the night sky.
Proverbs 3:19-20
King James Version
19 The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
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Proverbs 3:19-20
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
19 The Lord by skillful and godly Wisdom has founded the earth; by understanding He has established the heavens.(A)
20 By His knowledge the deeps were broken up, and the skies distill the dew.
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Proverbs 25:2-3
English Standard Version
2 It is the glory of God to (A)conceal things,
but the glory of kings is to (B)search things out.
3 As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth,
so the heart of kings is (C)unsearchable.
Proverbs 25:2-3
New Living Translation
2 It is God’s privilege to conceal things
and the king’s privilege to discover them.
3 No one can comprehend the height of heaven, the depth of the earth,
or all that goes on in the king’s mind!
Proverbs 25:2-3
King James Version
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
3 The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
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Proverbs 25:2-3
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a thing.(A)
3 As the heavens for height and the earth for depth, so the hearts and minds of kings are unsearchable.
Read full chapterThe Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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