Proverbs 8
International Children’s Bible
Listen to Wisdom
8 Like a person, wisdom calls out to you.
Understanding raises her voice.
2 On the hilltops along the road
and at the crossroads, she stands calling.
3 She stands beside the city gates.
At the entrances into the city, she calls out:
4 “People, I’m calling out to you.
I am shouting to all people.
5 You who do not know better, get the ability to think.
You who are foolish, get understanding.
6 Listen. I have important things to say.
What I tell you is right.
7 What I say is true.
I hate it when people speak evil.
8 Everything I say is honest.
Nothing I say is crooked or false.
9 People with good sense know that what I say is true.
People with knowledge know that my words are right.
10 Choose my teachings instead of silver.
Choose knowledge rather than the finest gold.
11 Wisdom is more precious than rubies.
Nothing you want is equal to it.
12 “I am wisdom, and I have the ability to think.
I also have knowledge and good sense.
13 If you respect the Lord, you also will hate evil.
It is wise to hate pride and bragging,
evil ways and lies.
14 I have good sense and advice.
I have understanding and power.
15 Kings use me to govern.
And rulers use me to make fair laws.
16 Princes use me to lead.
So do important men and all good judges.
17 I love those who love me.
Those who want me find me.
18 Riches and honor are mine.
So are wealth and lasting success.
19 What I give is better than the finest gold.
What I give is better than pure silver.
20 I do what is right.
I do what is fair.
21 I give wealth to those who love me.
I fill them with treasures.
22 “I, wisdom, was with God when he began his work.
This was before he made anything else long ago.
23 I was appointed in the very beginning,
even before the world began.
24 I began before there were oceans.
There were no springs overflowing with water.
25 I began before the hills were there.
The mountains had not even been put in place.
26 God still had not made the earth or fields.
He had not even made the first dust of the earth.
27 I was there when God put the skies in place,
when he stretched the horizon over the oceans.
28 I was there when he made the clouds above.
I was there when he put the fountains in the oceans.
29 I was there when he ordered the sea
not to go beyond the borders he had set for it.
I was there when he laid the earth’s foundation.
30 I was like a child by his side.
I was happy every day
and enjoyed being in his presence.
31 I enjoyed the whole world.
And I was happy with all its people.
32 “Now, my children, listen to me.
Those who follow my ways are happy.
33 Listen to my teaching, and you will be wise.
Do not ignore it.
34 Those who listen to me are happy.
They stand watching at my door every day.
They are at my open doorway, wanting to be with me.
35 Whoever finds me finds life.
And the Lord will be pleased with him.
36 Whoever does not find me hurts himself.
Those who hate me love death.”
Proverbs 8
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
8 Does not skillful and godly Wisdom cry out, and understanding raise her voice [in contrast to the loose woman]?
2 On the top of the heights beside the way, where the paths meet, stands Wisdom [skillful and godly];
3 At the gates at the entrance of the town, at the coming in at the doors, she cries out:
4 To you, O men, I call, and my voice is directed to the sons of men.
5 O you simple and thoughtless ones, understand prudence; you [self-confident] fools, be of an understanding heart.(A)
6 Hear, for I will speak excellent and princely things; and the opening of my lips shall be for right things.
7 For my mouth shall utter truth, and wrongdoing is detestable and loathsome to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are righteous (upright and in right standing with God); there is nothing contrary to truth or crooked in them.
9 They are all plain to him who understands [and opens his heart], and right to those who find knowledge [and live by it].
10 Receive my instruction in preference to [striving for] silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold,
11 For skillful and godly Wisdom is better than rubies or pearls, and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.(B)
12 I, Wisdom [from God], make prudence my dwelling, and I find out knowledge and discretion.(C)
13 The reverent fear and worshipful awe of the Lord [includes] the hatred of evil; pride, arrogance, the evil way, and perverted and twisted speech I hate.
14 I have counsel and sound knowledge, I have understanding, I have might and power.
15 By me kings reign and rulers decree justice.(D)
16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges and governors of the earth.
17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me early and diligently shall find me.(E)
18 Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness (uprightness in every area and relation, and right standing with God).(F)
19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than refined gold, and my increase than choice silver.
20 I [Wisdom] walk in the way of righteousness (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation), in the midst of the paths of justice,
21 That I may cause those who love me to inherit [true] riches and that I may fill their treasuries.
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.(G)
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,(H)
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—(I)
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,(J)
31 Rejoicing in His inhabited earth and delighting in the sons of men.(K)
32 Now therefore listen to me, O you sons; for blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are those who keep my ways.(L)
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.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 8:30 See Wisdom here present and involved at creation as an attribute of God.
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
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