Proverbs 8:1-23
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 8
1Does not wisdom call, And understanding raise her voice? 2On top of the heights beside the way, Where the paths meet, she takes her stand; 3Beside the 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 mankind. 5You naive ones, understand prudence; And, you fools, understand wisdom! 6Listen, for I will speak noble things; And the opening of my lips will reveal right things. 7For my mouth will proclaim truth; And wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 8All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; There is nothing crooked or perverted in them. 9They are all straightforward to him who understands, And right to those who find knowledge. 10Accept my instruction and not silver, And knowledge rather than choice gold. 11For wisdom is better than jewels; And all desirable things cannot compare with her. 12'I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And I find knowledge and discretion. 13The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride, arrogance, the evil way, And the perverted mouth, I hate. 14Advice is mine and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine. 15By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice. 16By me princes rule, and nobles, All who judge rightly. 17I love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me. 18Riches and honor are with me, Enduring wealth and righteousness. 19My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold; And my yield better than choice silver. 20I walk in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice, 21To endow those who love me with wealth, That I may fill their treasuries. 22'The Lord created me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old. 23From eternity I was established, From the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth.King James Version
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 8
1Doesn’t wisdom call out? Doesn’t understanding make her voice heard? 2At the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads, she takes her stand. 3Beside the gates leading into the city, at the main entrance, she cries out: 4"People, I call out to you; my cry is to the children of Adam. 5Learn to be shrewd, you who are inexperienced; develop common sense, you who are foolish. 6Listen, for I speak of noble things, and what my lips say is right. 7For my mouth tells the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips. 8All the words from my mouth are righteous; none of them are deceptive or perverse. 9All of them are clear to the perceptive, and right to those who discover knowledge. 10Accept my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold. 11For wisdom is better than jewels, and nothing desirable can equal it. 12I, wisdom, share a home with shrewdness and have knowledge and discretion. 13To fear the Lord is to hate evil. I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech. 14I possess good advice and sound wisdom; I have understanding and strength. 15It is by me that kings reign and rulers enact just law; 16by me, princes lead, as do nobles and all righteous judges. 17I love those who love me, and those who search for me find me. 18With me are riches and honor, lasting wealth and righteousness. 19My fruit is better than solid gold, and my harvest than pure silver. 20I walk in the ways of righteousness, along the paths of justice,New Living Translation
Chapter 8
1Listen as Wisdom calls out! Hear as understanding raises her voice! 2On the hilltop along the road, she takes her stand at the crossroads. 3By the gates at the entrance to the town, on the road leading in, she cries aloud, 4'I call to you, to all of you! I raise my voice to all people. 5You simple people, use good judgment. You foolish people, show some understanding. 6Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you. Everything I say is right, 7for I speak the truth and detest every kind of deception. 8My advice is wholesome. There is nothing devious or crooked in it. 9My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those with knowledge. 10Choose my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold. 11For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it.
12'I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment. I know where to discover knowledge and discernment.
13All who fear the Lord will hate evil. Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech.
14Common sense and success belong to me. Insight and strength are mine.
15Because of me, kings reign, and rulers make just decrees.
16Rulers lead with my help, and nobles make righteous judgments.
17'I love all who love me. Those who search will surely find me.
18I have riches and honor, as well as enduring wealth and justice.
19My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold, my wages better than sterling silver!
20I walk in righteousness, in paths of justice.
21Those who love me inherit wealth. I will fill their treasuries.
English Standard Version
Chapter 8
1Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice? 2On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; 3beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud: 4"To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man. 5O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense. 6Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right, 7for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 8All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them. 9They are all straight to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge. 10 Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, 11 for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her. 12"I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. 13 The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. 14I have counsel and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have strength. 15By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just; 16by me princes rule, and nobles, all who govern justly. 17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me. 18 Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness. 19My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver. 20I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice, 21granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries. 22 "The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. 23Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.New International Version
Chapter 8
1Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? 2At the highest point along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand; 3beside the gate leading into the city, at the entrance, she cries aloud: 4"To you, O people, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind. 5You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, set your hearts on it. 6Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right. 7My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness. 8All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse. 9To the discerning all of them are right; they are upright to those who have found knowledge. 10Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold,
11for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.
12"I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion.
13To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
14Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight, I have power.
15By me kings reign and rulers issue decrees that are just;
16by me princes govern, and nobles—all who rule on earth.
17I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.
18With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.
19My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver.
20I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
New King James Version
