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Proverbs 8
Revised Geneva Translation
Proverbs 8
Revised Geneva Translation
8 Does not wisdom cry, and understanding utter her voice?
2 She stands in the top of the high places; by the way, in the place of the paths.
3 She cries at the gates, before the city, at the entry of the doors,
4 “O men, I call to you; and my voice to the children of man.
5 “O foolish, understand wisdom. And, O fools, be wise in heart.
6 “Give ear. For I will speak of excellent things. And the opening of my lips shall teach things that are right.
7 “For my mouth shall speak the truth. And my lips abhor wickedness.8 All the words of my mouth are righteous. There is no lewdness, nor perversion in them.
9 “They are all plain to those who will understand; and straight to those who would find knowledge.
10 “Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than fine gold.
11 “For wisdom is better than precious stones. And all pleasures are not to be compared to her.
12 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence. And I find out knowledge and discretion.
13 “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil. I hate pride and arrogance and the evil way and a mouth that speaks lewd things.
14 “I have counsel and wisdom. I am understanding. I have strength.
15 “By me kings reign and princes decree justice.
16 “By me princes rule; and the nobles; and all the judges of the Earth.
17 “I love those who love me. And those who seek me early shall find me.
18 “Riches and honor are with me, durable riches and righteousness.
19 “My fruit is better than gold—than fine gold—and my revenues better than fine silver.
20 “I cause to walk in the way of righteousness; in the midst of the paths of judgment,
21 “that I may cause those who love me to inherit substance. And I will fill their treasures.
22 “The LORD has possessed me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old.
23 “I was set up from everlasting; from the beginning, before the Earth.
24 “I was begotten when there were no depths; when there were no fountains abounding with water;
25 “before the mountains were settled. Before the hills, was I begotten.
26 “He had not yet made the Earth, nor the open places, nor the height of the dust in the world.
27 “I was there when He prepared the heavens; when He set the compass upon the deep;
28 “when He established the clouds above; when He confirmed the fountains of the deep;
29 “when He gave His Decree to the sea that the waters should not pass His Commandment; when He appointed the foundations of the Earth.
30 “Then I was with Him, a nourisher. And I was His daily delight, rejoicing always before Him;
31 “and took my solace in the compass of His Earth, and my delight with the children of man.
32 “Therefore, now listen to me, O children. For blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 “Hear instruction and be wise. And do not refuse it. Blessed is the man who hears me; watching daily at my gates; giving attendance at the posts of my doors.
34 “For whoever finds me, finds life, and shall obtain favor from the LORD.
35 “But whoever sins against me, hurts his own soul. All who hate me, love death.”
Proverbs 8
New International Version
Proverbs 8
New International Version
Wisdom’s Call
8 Does not wisdom call out?(A)
Does not understanding raise her voice?
2 At the highest point along the way,
where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
3 beside the gate leading into the city,
at the entrance, she cries aloud:(B)
4 “To you, O people, I call out;(C)
I raise my voice to all mankind.
5 You who are simple,(D) gain prudence;(E)
you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.[a]
6 Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say;
I open my lips to speak what is right.
7 My mouth speaks what is true,(F)
for my lips detest wickedness.
8 All the words of my mouth are just;
none of them is crooked or perverse.
9 To the discerning all of them are right;
they are upright to those who have found knowledge.
10 Choose my instruction instead of silver,
knowledge rather than choice gold,(G)
11 for wisdom is more precious(H) than rubies,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.(I)
12 “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
I possess knowledge and discretion.(J)
13 To fear the Lord(K) is to hate evil;(L)
I hate(M) pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech.
14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
I have insight, I have power.(N)
15 By me kings reign
and rulers(O) issue decrees that are just;
16 by me princes govern,(P)
and nobles—all who rule on earth.[b]
17 I love those who love me,(Q)
and those who seek me find me.(R)
18 With me are riches and honor,(S)
enduring wealth and prosperity.(T)
19 My fruit is better than fine gold;(U)
what I yield surpasses choice silver.(V)
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,(W)
along the paths of justice,
21 bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me
and making their treasuries full.(X)
22 “The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works,[c][d]
before his deeds of old;
23 I was formed long ages ago,
at the very beginning, when the world came to be.
24 When there were no watery depths, I was given birth,
when there were no springs overflowing with water;(Y)
25 before the mountains were settled in place,(Z)
before the hills, I was given birth,(AA)
26 before he made the world or its fields
or any of the dust of the earth.(AB)
27 I was there when he set the heavens in place,(AC)
when he marked out the horizon(AD) on the face of the deep,
28 when he established the clouds above(AE)
and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,(AF)
29 when he gave the sea its boundary(AG)
so the waters would not overstep his command,(AH)
and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.(AI)
30 Then I was constantly[e] at his side.(AJ)
I was filled with delight day after day,
rejoicing always in his presence,
31 rejoicing in his whole world
and delighting in mankind.(AK)
32 “Now then, my children, listen(AL) to me;
blessed are(AM) those who keep my ways.(AN)
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise;
do not disregard it.
34 Blessed are those who listen(AO) to me,
watching daily at my doors,
waiting at my doorway.
35 For those who find me(AP) find life(AQ)
and receive favor from the Lord.(AR)
36 But those who fail to find me harm themselves;(AS)
all who hate me love death.”(AT)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 8:5 Septuagint; Hebrew foolish, instruct your minds
- Proverbs 8:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; other Hebrew manuscripts all righteous rulers
- Proverbs 8:22 Or way; or dominion
- Proverbs 8:22 Or The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work; or The Lord brought me forth at the beginning of his work
- Proverbs 8:30 Or was the artisan; or was a little child
Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)
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