Proverbs 8
King James Version
8 Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
4 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.
9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
20 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
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.
Proverbs 8
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Wisdom’s Appeal
8 Doesn’t Wisdom(A) call out?
Doesn’t Understanding make her voice heard?
2 At the heights overlooking the road,
at the crossroads, she takes her stand.
3 Beside the gates(B) at the entry to[a] the city,
at the main entrance, she cries out:
4 “People, I call out to you;
my cry is to mankind.
5 Learn to be shrewd, you who are inexperienced;
develop common sense, you who are foolish.
6 Listen, for I speak of noble things,
and what my lips say is right.
7 For my mouth tells the truth,(C)
and wickedness is detestable to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are righteous;
none of them are deceptive or perverse.(D)
9 All of them are clear to the perceptive,(E)
and right to those who discover knowledge.
10 Accept my instruction instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than pure gold.(F)
11 For wisdom is better than jewels,(G)
and nothing desirable can compare with it.(H)
12 I, Wisdom, share a home with shrewdness
and have knowledge and discretion.(I)
13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil.(J)
I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct,
and perverse speech.
14 I possess good advice and competence;[b]
I have understanding and strength.(K)
15 It is by me that kings reign(L)
and rulers enact just law;
16 by me, princes lead,
as do nobles and all righteous judges.[c]
17 I love those who love me,(M)
and those who search for me find me.(N)
18 With me are riches and honor,(O)
lasting wealth and righteousness.(P)
19 My fruit is better than solid gold,
and my harvest than pure silver.(Q)
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
along the paths of justice,
21 giving wealth as an inheritance to those who love me,
and filling their treasuries.
22 “The Lord made[d] me
at the beginning of His creation,[e]
before His works of long ago.(R)
23 I was formed before ancient times,
from the beginning, before the earth began.(S)
24 I was born
when there were no watery depths(T)
and no springs filled with water.
25 I was delivered
before the mountains and hills were established,(U)
26 before He made the land, the fields,
or the first soil on earth.
27 I was there when He established the heavens,(V)
when He laid out the horizon on the surface of the ocean,(W)
28 when He placed the skies above,
when the fountains of the ocean gushed out,
29 when He set a limit for the sea
so that the waters would not violate His command,(X)
when He laid out the foundations of the earth.(Y)
30 I was a skilled craftsman[f] beside Him.(Z)
I was His[g] delight every day,
always rejoicing before Him.
31 I was rejoicing in His inhabited world,(AA)
delighting in the human race.(AB)
32 “And now, my sons, listen to me;
those who keep my ways are happy.(AC)
33 Listen to instruction and be wise;(AD)
don’t ignore it.
34 Anyone who listens to me is happy,(AE)
watching at my doors every day,
waiting by the posts of my doorway.
35 For the one who finds me finds life(AF)
and obtains favor from the Lord,(AG)
36 but the one who misses me[h] harms himself;(AH)
all who hate me love death.”(AI)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 8:3 Lit the mouth of
- Proverbs 8:14 Or resourcefulness
- Proverbs 8:16 Some Hb mss, LXX read nobles who judge the earth
- Proverbs 8:22 Or possessed, or begot
- Proverbs 8:22 Lit way
- Proverbs 8:30 Or a confidant, or a child, or was constantly
- Proverbs 8:30 LXX; MT omits His
- Proverbs 8:36 Or who sins against me
Proverbs 8
American Standard Version
8 Doth not wisdom cry,
And understanding put forth her voice?
2 On the top of high places by the way,
Where the paths meet, she standeth;
3 Beside the gates, at the entry of the city,
At the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud:
4 Unto you, O men, I call;
And my voice is to the sons of men.
5 O ye simple, understand prudence;
And, ye fools, be of an understanding heart.
6 Hear, for I will speak excellent things;
And the opening of my lips shall be right things.
7 For my mouth shall utter truth;
And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth [a]are in righteousness;
There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
9 They are all plain to him that understandeth,
And right to them that find knowledge.
10 Receive my instruction, and not silver;
And knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 For wisdom is better than rubies;
And all the things that may be desired are not to be compared unto it.
12 I wisdom have made prudence my dwelling,
And find out [b]knowledge and discretion.
13 The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil:
Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way,
And the perverse mouth, do I hate.
14 Counsel is mine, and [c]sound knowledge:
I am understanding; I have might.
15 By me kings reign,
And princes decree justice.
16 By me [d]princes rule,
And nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17 I love them that love me;
And those that seek me [e]diligently shall find me.
18 Riches and honor are with me;
Yea, [f]durable wealth and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold;
And my [g]revenue than choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice;
21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance,
And that I may fill their treasuries.
22 Jehovah [h]possessed me in [i]the beginning of his way,
[j]Before his works of old.
23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning,
Before 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 [k]beginning of the dust of the world.
27 When he [l]established the heavens, I was there:
When he set a circle upon the face of the deep,
28 When he made firm the skies above,
When the fountains of the deep became strong,
29 When he gave to the sea [m]its bound,
That the waters should not transgress his commandment,
When he [n]marked out the foundations of the earth;
30 Then I was by him, as a master workman;
And I [o]was daily his delight,
[p]Rejoicing always before him,
31 [q]Rejoicing in his habitable earth;
And my delight was with the sons of men.
32 Now therefore, my sons, hearken unto me;
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 [r]obtain favor of Jehovah.
36 But he that [s]sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul:
All they that hate me love death.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 8:8 Or, are righteousness
- Proverbs 8:12 Or, knowledge of witty inventions
- Proverbs 8:14 Or, effectual working
- Proverbs 8:16 Or, rulers
- Proverbs 8:17 Or, early
- Proverbs 8:18 Or, ancient
- Proverbs 8:19 Or, increase
- Proverbs 8:22 Or, formed
- Proverbs 8:22 Or, as
- Proverbs 8:22 Or, The first of
- Proverbs 8:26 Or, sum
- Proverbs 8:27 Or, prepared
- Proverbs 8:29 Or, his decree
- Proverbs 8:29 Or, appointed
- Proverbs 8:30 Or, had delight continually
- Proverbs 8:30 Or, Sporting
- Proverbs 8:31 Or, Sporting
- Proverbs 8:35 Hebrew draw forth.
- Proverbs 8:36 Or, misseth me
Proverbs 8
Young's Literal Translation
8 Doth not wisdom call? And understanding give forth her voice?
2 At the head of high places by the way, Between the paths she hath stood,
3 At the side of the gates, at the mouth of the city, The entrance of the openings, she crieth aloud,
4 `Unto you, O men, I call, And my voice [is] unto the sons of men.
5 Understand, ye simple ones, prudence, And ye fools, understand the heart,
6 Hearken, for noble things I speak, And the opening of my lips [is] uprightness.
7 For truth doth my mouth utter, And an abomination to my lips [is] wickedness.
8 In righteousness [are] all the sayings of my mouth, Nothing in them is froward and perverse.
9 All of them [are] plain to the intelligent, And upright to those finding knowledge.
10 Receive my instruction, and not silver, And knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 For better [is] wisdom than rubies, Yea, all delights are not comparable with it.
12 I, wisdom, have dwelt with prudence, And a knowledge of devices I find out.
13 The fear of Jehovah [is] to hate evil; Pride, and arrogance, and an evil way, And a froward mouth, I have hated.
14 Mine [is] counsel and substance, I [am] understanding, I have might.
15 By me kings reign, and princes decree righteousness,
16 By me do chiefs rule, and nobles, All judges of the earth.
17 I love those loving me, And those seeking me earnestly do find me.
18 Wealth and honour [are] with me, Lasting substance and righteousness.
19 Better [is] my fruit than gold, even fine gold, And mine increase than choice silver.
20 In a path of righteousness I cause to walk, In midst of paths of judgment,
21 To cause my lovers to inherit substance, Yea, their treasures I fill.
22 Jehovah possessed me -- the beginning of His way, Before His works since then.
23 From the age I was anointed, from the first, From former states of the earth.
24 In there being no depths, I was brought forth, In there being no fountains heavy [with] waters,
25 Before mountains were sunk, Before heights, I was brought forth.
26 While He had not made the earth, and out-places, And the top of the dusts of the world.
27 In His preparing the heavens I [am] there, In His decreeing a circle on the face of the deep,
28 In His strengthening clouds above, In His making strong fountains of the deep,
29 In His setting for the sea its limit, And the waters transgress not His command, In His decreeing the foundations of earth,
30 Then I am near Him, a workman, And I am a delight -- day by day. Rejoicing before Him at all times,
31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth, And my delights [are] with the sons of men.
32 And now, ye sons, hearken to me, Yea, happy are they who keep my ways.
33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and slight not.
34 O the happiness of the man hearkening to me, To watch at my doors day by day, To watch at the door-posts of my entrance.
35 For whoso is finding me, hath found life, And bringeth out good-will from Jehovah.
36 And whoso is missing me, is wronging his soul, All hating me have loved death!
Proverbs 8
Revised Standard Version
The Gifts of Wisdom
8 Does not wisdom call,
Does not understanding raise her voice?
2 On the heights beside the way,
in the paths she takes her stand;
3 beside the gates in front of the town,
at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:
4 “To you, O men, I call,
and my cry is to the sons of men.
5 O simple ones, learn prudence;
O foolish men, pay attention.
6 Hear, for I will speak noble things,
and from my lips will come what is right;
7 for my mouth will utter truth;
wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are righteous;
there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.
9 They are all straight to him who understands
and right to those who find knowledge.
10 Take my instruction instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than choice gold;
11 for wisdom is better than jewels,
and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.
12 I, wisdom, dwell in prudence,[a]
and I find knowledge and discretion.
13 The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.
Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
and perverted speech I hate.
14 I have counsel and sound wisdom,
I have insight, I have strength.
15 By me kings reign,
and rulers decree what is just;
16 by me princes rule,
and nobles govern[b] the earth.
17 I love those who love me,
and those who seek me diligently find me.
18 Riches and honor are with me,
enduring wealth and prosperity.
19 My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold,
and my yield than choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
in the paths of justice,
21 endowing with wealth those who love me,
and filling their treasuries.
Wisdom’s Part in Creation
22 The Lord created me at the beginning of his work,[c]
the first of his acts of old.
23 Ages ago I was set up,
at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
24 When there were no depths I was brought forth,
when there were no springs abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains had been shaped,
before the hills, I was brought forth;
26 before he had made the earth with its fields,[d]
or the first of the dust[e] of the world.
27 When he established the heavens, I was there,
when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
28 when he made firm the skies above,
when he established[f] the fountains of the deep,
29 when he assigned to the sea its limit,
so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
30 then I was beside him, like a master workman;[g]
and I was daily his[h] delight,
rejoicing before him always,
31 rejoicing in his inhabited world
and delighting in the sons of men.
32 And now, my sons, listen to me:
happy are those who keep my ways.
33 Hear instruction and be wise,
and do not neglect it.
34 Happy is the man who listens to me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting beside my doors.
35 For he who finds me finds life
and obtains favor from the Lord;
36 but he who misses me injures himself;
all who hate me love death.”
Footnotes
- Proverbs 8:12 Heb obscure
- Proverbs 8:16 Gk: Heb all the governors of
- Proverbs 8:22 Heb way
- Proverbs 8:26 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
- Proverbs 8:26 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
- Proverbs 8:28 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
- Proverbs 8:30 Another reading is little child
- Proverbs 8:30 Gk: Heb lacks his
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