Proverbs 8 – New International Version (NIV)
Wisdom’s Call
- Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?
- At the highest point along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
- beside the gate leading into the city, at the entrance, she cries aloud:
- “To you, O people, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind.
- You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.[a]
- Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right.
- My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness.
- All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse.
- To the discerning all of them are right; they are upright to those who have found knowledge.
- Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold,
- for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.
- “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion.
- To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
- Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight, I have power.
- By me kings reign and rulers issue decrees that are just;
- by me princes govern, and nobles—all who rule on earth.[b]
- I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.
- With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.
- My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver.
- I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
- bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me and making their treasuries full.
- “The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works,[c][d] before his deeds of old;
- I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be.
- When there were no watery depths, I was given birth, when there were no springs overflowing with water;
- before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth,
- before he made the world or its fields or any of the dust of the earth.
- I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,
- when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,
- when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.
- Then I was constantly[e] at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence,
- rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind.
- “Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.
- Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it.
- Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.
- For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord.
- But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death.”
Footnotes
a. Proverbs 8:5 Septuagint; Hebrew foolish, instruct your minds
b. Proverbs 8:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; other Hebrew manuscripts all righteous rulers
c. Proverbs 8:22 Or way; or dominion
d. Proverbs 8:22 Or The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work; or The Lord brought me forth at the beginning of his work
e. Proverbs 8:30 Or was the artisan; or was a little child
b. Proverbs 8:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; other Hebrew manuscripts all righteous rulers
c. Proverbs 8:22 Or way; or dominion
d. Proverbs 8:22 Or The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work; or The Lord brought me forth at the beginning of his work
e. Proverbs 8:30 Or was the artisan; or was a little child
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Proverbs 8 – King James Version (KJV)
Wisdom and Folly
- Doth not wisdom cry? And understanding put forth her voice?
- She standeth in the top of high places, by the way In the places of the paths.
- She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, At the coming in at the doors.
- Unto you, O men, I call; And my voice is to the sons of man.
- O ye simple, understand wisdom: And, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
- Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; And the opening of my lips shall be right things.
- For my mouth shall speak truth; And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
- All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; There is nothing froward or perverse in them.
- They are all plain to him that understandeth, And right to them that find knowledge.
- Receive my instruction, and not silver; And knowledge rather than choice gold.
- For wisdom is better than rubies; And all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
- I wisdom dwell with prudence, And find out knowledge of witty inventions.
- The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, And the froward mouth, do I hate.
- Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
- By me kings reign, And princes decree justice.
- By me princes rule, And nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
- I love them that love me; And those that seek me early shall find me.
- Riches and honour are with me; Yea, durable riches and righteousness.
- My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; And my revenue than choice silver.
- I lead in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of judgment:
- That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; And I will fill their treasures.
- The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, Before his works of old.
- I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, Or ever the earth was.
- When there were no depths, I was brought forth; When there were no fountains abounding with water.
- Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills was I brought forth:
- While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, Nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
- When he prepared the heavens, I was there: When he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
- When he established the clouds above: When he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
- When he gave to the sea his decree, That the waters should not pass his commandment: When he appointed the foundations of the earth:
- Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: And I was daily his delight, Rejoicing always before him;
- Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; And my delights were with the sons of men.
- Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: For blessed are they that keep my ways.
- Hear instruction, and be wise, And refuse it not.
- Blessed is the man that heareth me,Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors.
- For whoso findeth me findeth life, And shall obtain favour of the LORD.
- But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: All they that hate me love death.
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