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Proverbs 8:4-21
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Proverbs 8:4-21
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
4 “To you, O people, I call;
my appeal is to you mortals.
5 You naive ones, gain prudence,
you fools,[a] gain sense.
6 Listen! for noble things I speak;
my lips proclaim honest words.
7 [b]Indeed, my mouth utters truth,
and my lips abhor wickedness.
8 All the words of my mouth are sincere,
none of them wily or crooked;
9 All of them are straightforward to the intelligent,
and right to those who attain knowledge.
10 Take my instruction instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 [For Wisdom is better than corals,
and no treasures can compare with her.(A)]
12 I, Wisdom, dwell with prudence,
and useful knowledge I have.
13 [The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil;]
Pride, arrogance, the evil way,
and the perverse mouth I hate.(B)
14 Mine are counsel and advice;
Mine is strength; I am understanding.[c]
15 By me kings reign,
and rulers enact justice;
16 By me princes govern,
and nobles, all the judges of the earth.
17 Those who love me I also love,
and those who seek me find me.
18 With me are riches and honor,(C)
wealth that endures, and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold,
and my yield than choice silver.(D)
20 On the way of righteousness I walk,
along the paths of justice,
21 Granting wealth to those who love me,
and filling their treasuries.
Footnotes
- 8:5 Naive ones…fools: see note on 1:4.
- 8:7–8 The truth and sincerity of wisdom are absolute because they are of divine origin. They can neither deceive nor tolerate deception. The intelligent understand and accept this. “Straight” and “crooked” in Hebrew and English are metaphors for true, trustworthy and false, deceitful.
- 8:14 What is here predicated of Wisdom is elsewhere attributed to God (Jb 12:13–16).
Proverbs 8:4-21
New International Version
Proverbs 8:4-21
New International Version
4 “To you, O people, I call out;(A)
I raise my voice to all mankind.
5 You who are simple,(B) gain prudence;(C)
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,(D)
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,(E)
11 for wisdom is more precious(F) than rubies,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.(G)
12 “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
I possess knowledge and discretion.(H)
13 To fear the Lord(I) is to hate evil;(J)
I hate(K) pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech.
14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
I have insight, I have power.(L)
15 By me kings reign
and rulers(M) issue decrees that are just;
16 by me princes govern,(N)
and nobles—all who rule on earth.[b]
17 I love those who love me,(O)
and those who seek me find me.(P)
18 With me are riches and honor,(Q)
enduring wealth and prosperity.(R)
19 My fruit is better than fine gold;(S)
what I yield surpasses choice silver.(T)
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,(U)
along the paths of justice,
21 bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me
and making their treasuries full.(V)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 8:5 Septuagint; Hebrew foolish, instruct your minds
- Proverbs 8:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; other Hebrew manuscripts all righteous rulers
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
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