8 Listen! Wisdom is calling out. She wants you to understand what is right, so she speaks in a loud voice. 2 She stands where people will hear her, on the hills along the road. She stands where different paths meet. 3 She stands near the gates where people go into the city. This is what she says:
4 ‘I call out to all of you, wherever you live on earth.
5 You who are silly, learn to be wise!
You who are fools, learn to understand what is right.
6 Listen! I have important things to tell you.
Everything that I will speak is right.
7 I say only things that are true.
I hate all wicked lies.
8 Everything that I say is right and true.
I say nothing that will deceive you.
9 If you understand what is right, you will understand all my words.
If you have knowledge, you will know that they are true.
10 Receive my wise teaching and knowledge as valuable things.
They are more valuable than silver or the best gold.
11 Wisdom is more valuable than jewels.
Nothing that you might ever want is equal to it.
12 I, wisdom, live with an honest mind as my friend.
I have knowledge and I understand what is right.
13 If you respect the Lord with fear, then you will hate anything that is evil.
I hate proud people who boast.
I hate people who live evil lives.
I hate people who say things to deceive others.
14 I tell people how to do wise things that are right.
I understand what is right and I am strong.
15 I help kings to rule well.
I help rulers to make fair laws.
16 I help leaders, officers and all judges to lead people in a good way.
17 I love those people who love me.
Whoever looks for me will find me.
18 I am able to give people riches and honour.
I help people to use their money well and to do what is right.
19 What you receive from me is better than the best gold.
It is better than the best silver.
20 I walk along the way that is righteous.
I follow the path of justice.
21 In that way, people who love me will receive riches.
I fill their houses with valuable things.
22 The Lord created me as the first thing that he did.
That was the first of his acts long ago.
23 He chose me as his servant from the beginning of time.
That was before the world began.
24 I was born before the deep seas were there.
There were not yet springs that poured out water.
25 I was born before the mountains or the hills appeared in their places.
26 I was born before the Lord made the earth and its fields,
before there was soil on the earth.
27 I was there when he put the heavens in their place.
I was there when he made the border of the sea where it meets the sky.
28 I was there when he put the clouds in the sky.
I was there when he made streams of water fill the seas.
29 He gave his command to the seas, that they should obey him.
The waters of the sea must stay inside its borders.
I was there when he built the foundations of the earth.
30 When the Lord made all that happen,
I was beside him as his faithful helper.
I pleased him every day, and I was happy to be with him.
31 The world that he had made gave me great joy.
The people who lived on it made me happy.
32 So listen to me, my children.
Anyone who obeys my teaching will be happy.
33 Listen when I tell you what is right for you to do.
Then you will be wise.
Do not forget what I tell you.
34 Anyone who listens to me is in a happy place.
You can wait outside my home each day, and I will teach you.
35 Anyone who finds me, wisdom, finds true life.
The Lord will bless that person.
36 But anyone who does not find me brings trouble on himself.
Everybody who hates me loves death.’
8 Listen, Wisdom is calling.
Yes, Understanding is shouting for us.
2 Wisdom stands at the top of the hill,
by the road where the paths meet.
3 She is near the entrance to the city,
calling from the open gates.
4 “I am calling out to all of you.
I am speaking to everyone.
5 You who are ignorant, learn to be wise.
You who are foolish, get some common sense.
6 Listen, I have something important to say,
and I am telling you what is right.
7 My words are true,
and I will not say anything that is wrong.
8 Everything I say is right;
there is nothing false or crooked about it.
9 These things are clear to any intelligent person.
They are right to anyone with knowledge.
10 Choose discipline over silver
and knowledge over the finest gold.
11 Wisdom is better than pearls,
and nothing you desire compares with her.
12 “I am Wisdom.
I live with Good Judgment.
I am at home with Knowledge and Planning.
13 To respect the Lord means to hate evil.
I hate pride and boasting,
evil lives and hurtful words.
14 I have good advice and common sense to offer.
I have understanding and power.
15 With my help kings rule,
and governors make good laws.
16 With my help leaders govern,
and important officials make good decisions. [ a ]
17 I love those who love me,
and those who look for me will find me.
18 With me there are riches and honor.
I have lasting wealth to give to you.
19 What I give is better than fine gold.
What I produce is better than pure silver.
20 I lead people the right way—
along the paths of justice.
21 I give riches to those who love me,
and I fill their houses with treasures.
22 “The Lord made me in the beginning,
long before he did anything else.
23 I was formed a long time ago,
before the world was made.
24 I was born before there was an ocean,
before the springs began to flow.
25 I was born before the mountains and hills
were set into place,
26 before the earth and fields were made,
before the dust of this world was formed.
27 I was there when he set up the skies,
when he drew a circle in the ocean to make a place for the land.
28 I was there when he put the clouds in the sky
and made the deep springs flow.
29 I was there when he set the limits on the sea
to make it stop where he said.
I was there when he laid the foundations of the earth.
30 I grew up as a child by his side, [ b ]
laughing and playing all the time.
31 I played in the world he made
and enjoyed the people he put there.
32 “Now, children, listen to me.
If you follow my ways,
you will be happy too.
33 Listen to my teaching and be wise;
don’t ignore what I say.
34 Whoever waits at my door
and listens for me will be blessed.
35 Those who find me find life,
and the Lord will reward them.
36 But those who do not find me put their lives in danger.
Whoever hates me loves death.”
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.
8 Does not ( A ) wisdom call,
And understanding [ a ] raise her voice?
2 On top of ( B ) the heights beside the way,
Where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
3 Beside the ( C ) gates, at the opening to the city,
At the entrance of the doors, she cries out:
4 “To you, people, I call,
And my voice is to [ b ] mankind.
5 You ( D ) naive ones, understand prudence;
And, you ( E ) fools, understand [ c ] wisdom!
6 Listen, for I will speak ( F ) noble things;
And the opening of my lips will reveal ( G ) right things.
7 For my ( H ) mouth will proclaim truth;
And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness;
There is nothing ( I ) crooked or perverted in them.
9 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.”
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 )
