Proverbs

The Proverbs, chapter 8, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 8 New English Translation

The Appeal of Wisdom

   1 Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?
   2 At the top of the elevated places along the way, at the intersection of the paths she takes her stand;
   3 beside the gates opening into the city, at the entrance of the doorways she cries out:
   4 "To you, O people, I call out, and my voice calls to all mankind.
   5 You who are naive, discern wisdom! And you fools, understand discernment!
   6 Listen, for I will speak excellent things, and my lips will utter what is right.
   7 For my mouth speaks truth, and my lips hate wickedness.
   8 All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing in them twisted or crooked.
   9 All of them are clear to the discerning and upright to those who find knowledge.
   10 Receive my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold.
   11 For wisdom is better than rubies, and desirable things cannot be compared to her.
   12 "I, wisdom, live with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.
   13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride and the evil way and perverse utterances.
   14 Counsel and sound wisdom belong to me; I possess understanding and might.
   15 Kings reign by means of me, and potentates decree righteousness;
   16 by me princes rule, as well as nobles and all righteous judges.
   17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.
   18 Riches and honor are with me, long-lasting wealth and righteousness.
   19 My fruit is better than the purest gold, and what I produce is better than choice silver.
   20 I walk in the path of righteousness, in the pathway of justice,
   21 that I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, and that I may fill their treasuries.
   22 The LORD created me as the beginning of his works, before his deeds of long ago.
   23 From eternity I was appointed, from the beginning, from before the world existed.
   24 When there were no deep oceans I was born, when there were no springs overflowing with water;
   25 before the mountains were set in place - before the hills - I was born,
   26 before he made the earth and its fields, or the beginning of the dust of the world.
   27 When he established the heavens, I was there; when he marked out the horizon over the face of the deep,
   28 when he established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep grew strong,
   29 when he gave the sea his decree that the waters should not pass over his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
   30 then I was beside him as a master craftsman, and I was his delight day by day, rejoicing before him at all times,
   31 rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth, and delighting in its people.
   32 "So now, children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.
   33 Listen to my instruction so that you may be wise, and do not neglect it.
   34 Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching at my doors day by day, waiting beside my doorway.
   35 For the one who finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD.
   36 But the one who does not find me brings harm to himself; all who hate me love death."

King James Version

   1 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.