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Doesn’t wisdom cry out?
    Doesn’t understanding raise her voice?
On the top of high places by the way,
    where the paths meet, she stands.
Beside the gates, at the entry of the city,
    at the entry doors, she cries aloud:
“I call to you men!
    I send my voice to the sons of mankind.
You simple, understand prudence!
    You fools, be of an understanding heart!
Hear, for I will speak excellent things.
    The opening of my lips is for right things.
For my mouth speaks truth.
    Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness.
    There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
They are all plain to him who understands,
    right to those who find knowledge.
10 Receive my instruction rather than silver,
    knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 For wisdom is better than rubies.
    All the things that may be desired can’t be compared to it.

12 “I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling.
    Find out knowledge and discretion.
13 The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil.
    I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.
14 Counsel and sound knowledge are mine.
    I have understanding and power.
15 By me kings reign,
    and princes decree justice.
16 By me princes rule,
    nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth.
17 I love those who love me.
    Those who seek me diligently will find me.
18 With me are riches, honor,
    enduring wealth, and prosperity.
19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold,
    my yield than choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
    in the middle of the paths of justice,
21 that I may give wealth to those who love me.
    I fill their treasuries.

22 “Yahweh possessed me in the beginning of his work,
    before his deeds of old.
23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning,
    before the earth existed.
24 When there were no depths, I was born,
    when there were no springs abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled in place,
    before the hills, I was born;
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 established the heavens, I was there.
    When he set a circle on the surface of the deep,
28 when he established the clouds above,
    when the springs of the deep became strong,
29 when he gave to the sea its boundary,
    that the waters should not violate his commandment,
    when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
30 then I was the craftsman by his side.
    I was a delight day by day,
    always rejoicing before him,
31 rejoicing in his whole world.
    My delight was with the sons of men.

32 “Now therefore, my sons, listen to me,
    for blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Hear instruction, and be wise.
    Don’t refuse it.
34 Blessed is the man who hears me,
    watching daily at my gates,
    waiting at my door posts.
35 For whoever finds me, finds life,
    and will obtain favor from Yahweh.
36 But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul.
    All those who hate me love death.”

The Commendation of Wisdom

Does not (A)wisdom call,
And understanding [a]raise her voice?
On top of (B)the heights beside the way,
Where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
Beside the (C)gates, at the opening to the city,
At the entrance of the doors, she cries out:
“To you, people, I call,
And my voice is to [b]mankind.
You (D)naive ones, understand prudence;
And, you (E)fools, understand [c]wisdom!
Listen, for I will speak (F)noble things;
And the opening of my lips will reveal (G)right things.
For my (H)mouth will proclaim truth;
And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness;
There is nothing (I)crooked or perverted in them.
They are all (J)straightforward to him who understands,
And right to those who (K)find knowledge.
10 Accept my (L)instruction and not silver,
And knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 For wisdom is (M)better than [d]jewels;
And (N)all desirable things cannot compare with her.

12 “I, wisdom, (O)dwell with prudence,
And I find (P)knowledge and discretion.
13 The (Q)fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
(R)Pride, arrogance, (S)the evil way,
And the (T)perverted mouth, I hate.
14 (U)Advice is mine and (V)sound wisdom;
I am understanding, (W)power is mine.
15 By me (X)kings reign,
And rulers decree justice.
16 By me princes rule, and nobles,
All who judge rightly.
17 I (Y)love those who love me;
And (Z)those who diligently seek me will find me.
18 (AA)Riches and honor are with me,
Enduring (AB)wealth and righteousness.
19 My fruit is (AC)better than gold, even pure gold;
And my yield better than (AD)choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice,
21 To endow those who love me with wealth,
That I may (AE)fill their treasuries.

22 “The Lord [e]created me (AF)at the beginning of His way,
Before His works [f]of old.
23 From eternity I was [g](AG)established,
From the beginning, (AH)from the earliest times of the earth.
24 When there were no (AI)ocean depths, I was born,
When there were no springs abounding with water.
25 (AJ)Before the mountains were settled,
Before the hills, I was born;
26 While He had not yet made the earth and the [h]fields,
Nor the first dust of the world.
27 When He (AK)established the heavens, I was there;
When (AL)He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,
28 When He made firm the skies above,
When the springs of the deep became [i]fixed,
29 When (AM)He set a boundary for the sea
So that the water would not violate His [j]command,
When He marked out (AN)the foundations of the earth;
30 Then (AO)I was beside Him, as a master workman;
And I was His delight daily,
[k]Rejoicing always before Him,
31 [l]Rejoicing in the world, His earth,
And having (AP)my delight in the sons of mankind.

32 “Now then, sons, (AQ)listen to me,
For (AR)blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 (AS)Listen to instruction and be wise,
And do not neglect it.
34 (AT)Blessed is the person who listens to me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at my doorposts.
35 For (AU)one who finds me finds life,
And (AV)obtains favor from the Lord.
36 But one who [m]sins against me (AW)injures himself;
All those who (AX)hate me (AY)love death.”

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 8:1 Lit give
  2. Proverbs 8:4 Lit sons of mankind
  3. Proverbs 8:5 Lit heart
  4. Proverbs 8:11 Lit corals
  5. Proverbs 8:22 Or possessed
  6. Proverbs 8:22 Lit from then
  7. Proverbs 8:23 Or consecrated
  8. Proverbs 8:26 Lit outside places
  9. Proverbs 8:28 Lit strong
  10. Proverbs 8:29 Lit mouth
  11. Proverbs 8:30 Or Playing
  12. Proverbs 8:31 Or Playing
  13. Proverbs 8:36 Or misses me