Proverbs 8
The Message
Lady Wisdom Calls Out
8 1-11 Do you hear Lady Wisdom calling?
Can you hear Madame Insight raising her voice?
She’s taken her stand at First and Main,
at the busiest intersection.
Right in the city square
where the traffic is thickest, she shouts,
“You—I’m talking to all of you,
everyone out here on the streets!
Listen, you idiots—learn good sense!
You blockheads—shape up!
Don’t miss a word of this—I’m telling you how to live well,
I’m telling you how to live at your best.
My mouth chews and savors and relishes truth—
I can’t stand the taste of evil!
You’ll only hear true and right words from my mouth;
not one syllable will be twisted or skewed.
You’ll recognize this as true—you with open minds;
truth-ready minds will see it at once.
Prefer my life-disciplines over chasing after money,
and God-knowledge over a lucrative career.
For Wisdom is better than all the trappings of wealth;
nothing you could wish for holds a candle to her.
12-21 “I am Lady Wisdom, and I live next to Sanity;
Knowledge and Discretion live just down the street.
The Fear-of-God means hating Evil,
whose ways I hate with a passion—
pride and arrogance and crooked talk.
Good counsel and common sense are my characteristics;
I am both Insight and the Virtue to live it out.
With my help, leaders rule,
and lawmakers legislate fairly;
With my help, governors govern,
along with all in legitimate authority.
I love those who love me;
those who look for me find me.
Wealth and Glory accompany me—
also substantial Honor and a Good Name.
My benefits are worth more than a big salary, even a very big salary;
the returns on me exceed any imaginable bonus.
You can find me on Righteous Road—that’s where I walk—
at the intersection of Justice Avenue,
Handing out life to those who love me,
filling their arms with life—armloads of life!
22-31 “God sovereignly made me—the first, the basic—
before he did anything else.
I was brought into being a long time ago,
well before Earth got its start.
I arrived on the scene before Ocean,
yes, even before Springs and Rivers and Lakes.
Before Mountains were sculpted and Hills took shape,
I was already there, newborn;
Long before God stretched out Earth’s Horizons,
and tended to the minute details of Soil and Weather,
And set Sky firmly in place,
I was there.
When he mapped and gave borders to wild Ocean,
built the vast vault of Heaven,
and installed the fountains that fed Ocean,
When he drew a boundary for Sea,
posted a sign that said no trespassing,
And then staked out Earth’s Foundations,
I was right there with him, making sure everything fit.
Day after day I was there, with my joyful applause,
always enjoying his company,
Delighted with the world of things and creatures,
happily celebrating the human family.
32-36 “So, my dear friends, listen carefully;
those who embrace these my ways are most blessed.
Mark a life of discipline and live wisely;
don’t squander your precious life.
Blessed the man, blessed the woman, who listens to me,
awake and ready for me each morning,
alert and responsive as I start my day’s work.
When you find me, you find life, real life,
to say nothing of God’s good pleasure.
But if you wrong me, you damage your very soul;
when you reject me, you’re flirting with death.”
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
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.”
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
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