Proverbs, 8

1. Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?

1. Who calls? Is it not Wisdom? Who lifts up her voice?

2. She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.

2. Is it not Knowledge? She shouts from the hilltops and waits by the crossroads;

3. She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.

3. in the vicinity of the city gates she speaks,

4. Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice [is] to the sons of man.

4. "It is you, O men, I address for my message is directed to all mankind,

5. O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

5. so that the ignorant may learn and the thoughtless come to their senses.

6. Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips [shall be] right things.

6. Listen to me for I speak of vital things and everything I say is true.

7. For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness [is] an abomination to my lips.

7. Truthful words come from my mouth and my lips do not lend themselves to evil.

8. All the words of my mouth [are] in righteousness; [there is] nothing froward or perverse in them.

8. All my words are right, none are twisted or deceitful.

9. They [are] all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

9. The intelligent will verify their truth, the wise perceive their sincerity.

10. Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.

10. Prefer my teaching to silver and seek wisdom rather than gold,

11. For wisdom [is] better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

11. because wisdom has more value than any jewel and none of men's desires can equal it.

12. I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.

12. I, Wisdom, dwell with discretion and count prudence among my friends.

13. The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

13. The fear of Yahweh is rejection of evil. I hate all pride, arrogance, wicked ways and lies,

14. Counsel [is] mine, and sound wisdom: I [am] understanding; I have strength.

14. but I love counsel, discretion, prudence and strength.

15. By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.

15. Kings reign by my power, their ministers issue just laws;

16. By me princes rule, and nobles, [even] all the judges of the earth.

16. by me princes govern, and the great and noble of the earth as well.

17. I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

17. I love those who love me and go to meet those who seek me.

18. Riches and honour [are] with me; [yea], durable riches and righteousness.

18. Riches and honor are with me, true well-being and upright living.

19. My fruit [is] better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.

19. More precious than silver and gold are my fruit and my yield.

20. I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:

20. I proceed on the path of righteousness and make use of the ways of justice,

21. That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.

21. giving riches to those who love me, and filling their cellars.

22. The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

22. Yahweh created me first, at the beginning of his works.

23. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

23. He formed me from of old, from eternity, even before the earth.

24. When [there were] no depths, I was brought forth; when [there were] no fountains abounding with water.

24. The abyss did not exist when I was born, the springs of the sea had not gushed forth,

25. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:

25. the mountains were still not set in their place nor the hills, when I was born

26. While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.

26. before he made the earth or countryside, or the first grains of the world's dust.

27. When he prepared the heavens, I [was] there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:

27. I was there when he made the skies and drew the earth's compass on the abyss,

28. When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:

28. when he formed the clouds above and when the springs of the ocean emerged;

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:

29. when he made the sea with its limits, that it might not overflow. When he laid 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;

30. I was close beside him, the designer of his works, and I was his daily delight, forever playing in his presence,

31. Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights [were] with the sons of men.

31. playing throughout the world and delighting to be with the sons of men.

32. Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed [are they that] keep my ways.

32. Now then, my sons, listen to me: happy are those who follow my ways.

33. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

33. Listen to my teaching and gain wisdom; do not ignore it.

34. Blessed [is] the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

34. Happy are those who listen to me and wait at my gates every day, watching, close to my threshold.

35. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.

35. Those who find me find life: theirs is Yahweh's blessing.

36. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

36. Those who offend me will undergo affliction; they hate me for they love death.