Proverbs 8
Jubilee Bible 2000
8 ¶ Doth not wisdom cry, and give her voice to intelligence?
2 She stands in the top of high places, by the way at the crossroads of the paths.
3 She cries 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 men.
5 O ye simple, understand prudence; 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 perverse or twisted in them.
9 They are all plain to him that understands and right to those that have found wisdom.
10 Receive my chastening and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 For wisdom is better than precious stones; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
12 ¶ I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I invent the knowledge of giving counsel.
13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride, arrogancy, the evil way, and the perverse mouth, do I hate.
14 With me is counsel, and existence; I am understanding; strength belongs to me.
15 By me the kings reign, and the princes decree justice.
16 By me the princes rule, and all of the governors judge the earth.
17 I love those 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 precious stones, and my revenue than choice silver.
20 I shall lead in the way of righteousness in the midst of the paths of judgment,
21 that I may cause my friends to inherit existence 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 with eternal dominion, from the beginning, before the earth was.
24 I was begotten before the depths, before the existence of the fountains of many waters.
25 Before the mountains were founded, before the hills was I begotten.
26 While as yet he had not made the earth nor the fields nor the beginning of the dust of the world,
27 when he composed 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 I was with him ordering everything; I was his delight every day, being content before him at all times;
31 I am content in the circumference of his earth, and my contentment is with the sons of men.
32 ¶ Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye sons; for blessed are those that keep my ways.
33 Hearken unto chastening, and be wise; refuse it not.
34 Blessed is the man that hears me, keeping vigil at my gates, waiting at the threshold of my doors.
35 For whosoever finds me shall find life and shall obtain the will of the LORD.
36 But he that sins against me wrongs his own soul; all those that hate me love death.
Proverbs 8
New King James Version
The Excellence of Wisdom
8 Does not (A)wisdom cry out,
And understanding lift up her voice?
2 She takes her stand on the top of the [a]high hill,
Beside the way, where the paths meet.
3 She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city,
At the entrance of the doors:
4 “To you, O men, I call,
And my voice is to the sons of men.
5 O you [b]simple ones, understand prudence,
And you fools, be of an understanding heart.
6 Listen, for I will speak of (B)excellent things,
And from the opening of my lips will come right things;
7 For my mouth will speak truth;
Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are with righteousness;
Nothing crooked or perverse is in them.
9 They are all plain to him who understands,
And right to those who find knowledge.
10 Receive my instruction, and not silver,
And knowledge rather than choice gold;
11 (C)For wisdom is better than rubies,
And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.
12 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
And find out knowledge and discretion.
13 (D)The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
(E)Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And (F)the perverse mouth I hate.
14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom;
I am understanding, (G)I have strength.
15 (H)By me kings reign,
And rulers decree justice.
16 By me princes rule, and nobles,
All the judges of [c]the earth.
17 (I)I love those who love me,
And (J)those who seek me diligently will find me.
18 (K)Riches and honor are with me,
Enduring riches and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold,
And my revenue than choice silver.
20 I [d]traverse the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice,
21 That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth,
That I may fill their treasuries.
22 “The(L) Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way,
Before His works of old.
23 (M)I have been established from everlasting,
From the beginning, before there was ever an earth.
24 When there were no depths I was brought forth,
When there were no fountains abounding with water.
25 (N)Before the mountains were settled,
Before the hills, I was brought forth;
26 While as yet He had not made the earth or the [e]fields,
Or the [f]primal dust of the world.
27 When He prepared the heavens, I was there,
When He drew a circle on the face of the deep,
28 When He established the clouds above,
When He strengthened the fountains of the deep,
29 (O)When He assigned to the sea its limit,
So that the waters would not transgress His command,
When (P)He marked out the foundations of the earth,
30 (Q)Then I was beside Him as [g]a master craftsman;
(R)And I was daily His delight,
Rejoicing always before Him,
31 Rejoicing in His inhabited world,
And (S)my delight was with the sons of men.
32 “Now therefore, listen to me, my children,
For (T)blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Hear instruction and be wise,
And do not disdain it.
34 (U)Blessed is the man who listens to me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 For whoever finds me finds life,
And (V)obtains favor from the Lord;
36 But he who sins against me (W)wrongs his own soul;
All those who hate me love death.”
Footnotes
- Proverbs 8:2 Lit. heights
- Proverbs 8:5 naive
- Proverbs 8:16 MT, Syr., Tg., Vg. righteousness; LXX, Bg., some mss. and editions earth
- Proverbs 8:20 walk about on
- Proverbs 8:26 outer places
- Proverbs 8:26 Lit. beginning of the dust
- Proverbs 8:30 A Jewish tradition one brought up
箴言 8
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
智慧的呼喚
8 智慧不是在呼喚嗎?
悟性不是在呐喊嗎?
2 她在路邊高處站立,
她在十字街頭停留,
3 在城門旁,在入口處大喊:
4 「世人啊,我呼喚你們,
我向全人類大聲呼籲。
5 愚昧人啊,要學會謹慎!
愚頑人啊,要慎思明辨!
6 你們聽啊,我要說美好的話,
開口談論正直的事。
7 我的口傳揚真理,
我的嘴憎恨邪惡。
8 我口中的言語公正,
沒有一句錯謬的話。
9 我的話,智者明白,哲士認同。
10 要接受我的教誨,而非白銀;
要選擇知識,而非黃金。
11 因為智慧比寶石更珍貴,
一切美物都不能與之相比。
12 「我智慧與謹慎同住,
我擁有知識和明辨力。
13 敬畏耶和華就當憎恨邪惡,
我憎恨驕傲、狂妄、惡道和謊言。
14 我有謀略和真知,
又有悟性和能力。
15 君王靠我安邦定國,
首領藉我秉公行義,
16 王公大臣靠我治理天下,
官宦貴胄憑我公正斷案。
17 愛我的,我也愛他;
懇切尋求我的,必能尋見。
18 富貴和尊榮在我,
恆久的產業和公義也在我。
19 我的果實勝過純金,
我的出產勝過純銀。
20 我在公義的道上奔走,
在公平的路上前行。
21 我要賜財富給愛我的人,
使他們的庫房充盈。
22 「在耶和華造物的起頭,
在太初萬物被造以前,
就已經有我。
23 從亙古,從太初,
大地還沒有形成以前,
我已經被立。
24 沒有深淵,
沒有湧流的水泉以前,
我已經誕生。
25 大山未曾奠定,
小丘未曾形成,
我已經出生。
26 那時耶和華還沒有造大地和原野,
還沒有造一粒塵土。
27 祂鋪設諸天的時候,我已在場。
祂在深淵上畫出地平線,
28 上使穹蒼堅固,
下使深淵的泉源安穩,
29 設定滄海的界限,
使海水不得越過祂定的範圍,
為大地奠定根基的時候,
30 我就在祂身旁,
做祂的工程師,
天天成為祂的喜樂,
終日在祂面前歡悅,
31 因祂所造的人世而歡悅,
因祂所造的世人而喜樂。
32 「孩子們啊,你們要聽從我,
持守我道路的人有福了。
33 要聽從教誨,不可輕忽,
要做智者。
34 人若聽從我、天天在我門口仰望、
時時在我門邊等候,就有福了。
35 因為找到我的,便找到了生命,
他必蒙耶和華的恩惠。
36 沒找到我就是害自己;
憎恨我就是喜愛死亡。」
Proverbs 8
Wycliffe Bible
8 Whether wisdom crieth not oft; and prudence giveth her voice? (Whether not wisdom crieth often, and understanding giveth forth her voice?)
2 In most sovereign and high tops, above the way, in the midst of paths, (On hilltops, on the way, in the midst of paths,)
3 and it standeth beside the gate(s) of the city, in those enclosings, and speaketh, and saith,
4 A! ye men, I cry oft to you; and my voice is to the sons of men. (O! ye people, I often cry to you; and my words be for the sons and daughters of men.)
5 Little children, that is, little of wit, understand ye wisdom; and ye unwise men, perceiveth in heart. (Ye of little intelligence, understand ye wisdom; and ye who be unwise, think in your hearts.)
6 Hear ye (Listen ye), for I shall speak of great things; and my lips shall be opened, to preach rightful things.
7 My throat shall bethink truth; and my lips shall curse a wicked man. (My mouth shall speak the truth; and my lips shall curse the wicked/for my lips hate wicked words.)
8 My words be just; no shrewd thing, neither wayward is in those. (My words be right, or true; there is nothing depraved, or wicked, in them.)
9 They be rightful to them that understand; and they be even to them that find knowing. (They be right to those who understand; and they be obvious to those who find knowledge.)
10 Take ye my chastising, and not money (Receive, or accept, ye my discipline, and not money); choose ye teaching, more than treasure.
11 For wisdom is better than all riches most precious (For wisdom is better than all of the most precious riches); and all desirable thing may not be comparisoned thereto.
12 I, wisdom, dwell in counsel (live in good advice); and I am among learned thoughts.
13 The dread of the Lord hateth evil; I curse boast, and pride, and a shrewd way, and a double-tongued mouth. (The fear of the Lord is to hate evil/To have reverence for the Lord is to hate evil; I curse boast, and pride, and a depraved way, and speaking with a double-tongue, or with duplicity.)
14 Counsel is mine, and equity; prudence is mine, and strength. (Forethought is mine, and fairness, or equality; understanding is mine, and strength.)
15 Kings reign by me; and makers of laws deem just things by me. (Kings reign by me; and law-makers justly judge by me/and rulers make just laws by me.)
16 Princes command by me; and mighty men deem rightfulness by me. (Leaders command by me; and mighty men judge rightly, or with justice, by me.)
17 I love them that love me; and they that wake early to me, shall find me. (I love them who love me; and they who wake up early to seek me, shall find me.)
18 With me be riches, and glory; sovereign riches, and rightfulness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, and precious stone(s); and my seeds be better than chosen silver (and my recompense is better than chosen silver).
20 I go in the ways of rightfulness, in the midst of the paths of doom; (I go on the ways of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice;)
21 that I make rich them that love me (so that I make rich those who love me), and that I fill their treasures/their treasuries.
22 The Lord wielded me in the beginning of his ways (The Lord created me at the beginning of his ways); before that he made anything, (yea,) at the (very) beginning.
23 From without beginning I was ordained; and from eld times, before that the earth was made.
24 [The] Depths of waters were not yet (made); and I was conceived then. The wells of waters had not broken out yet (The water wells had not yet broken forth),
25 and hills stood not (al)together yet by firm heaviness; before little hills I was born. (and the mountains did not yet stand with firm heaviness; yea, I was born before the little hills.)
26 Yet he had not made [the] earth; and floods, and the earths of the world. (He had not yet made the earth; and the rivers, and the dust of the world.)
27 When he made ready heavens, I was present (When he prepared the heavens, I was there); (and) when he compassed, [or (en)closed,] the depths of (the) waters by certain law and compass.
28 When he made steadfast the air above; and weighed the wells of waters (and set in place the water wells).
29 When he compassed to the sea his mark (When he set the boundaries for the seas); and setted law to (the) waters, that they should not pass their coasts. When he weighed the foundaments of [the] earth;
30 I was making all (these) things with him. And I delighted by all days, and played before him in all time,
31 and I played in the world; and my delights be to be with the sons of men (and my delight is to be with the sons and daughters of men).
32 Now, therefore, sons, hear ye me; blessed be they that keep my ways. (And so now, sons and daughters, listen ye to me; blessed be those who follow my ways.)
33 Hear ye teaching, and be ye wise men; and do not ye cast it away. (Listen ye to my teaching, and be ye wise; and do not ye throw it away.)
34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, and that watcheth at my gates all day (Happy is the person who listeneth to me, and who standeth watch at my gates all day long); and keepeth (guard) at the posts of my door[s].
35 He that findeth me, shall find life; and he shall draw health of the Lord. (He who findeth me, shall find life; and he shall obtain favour from the Lord.)
36 But he that sinneth against me shall hurt his soul; all that hate me, love death. (But he who sinneth against me shall hurt his own soul; all who hate me, love death.)
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
Copyright © 2013, 2020 by Ransom Press International
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
2001 by Terence P. Noble
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.

