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Wisdom’s Announcement

Does not wisdom call out?
    Does not understanding raise its voice?
Wisdom takes its stand on high ground,
    by the wayside where the roads meet,
near the gates to the city.
    At the entrance wisdom sings its song,
“I am calling to all of you,
    and my appeal is to all people.
You gullible people, learn how to be sensible.
    You fools, get a heart that has understanding.[a]
Listen! I am speaking about noble things,
    and my lips will say what is right.
My mouth expresses the truth,
    and wickedness is disgusting to my lips.
Everything I say is fair,
    and there is nothing twisted or crooked in it.
All of it is clear to a person who has understanding
    and right to those who have acquired knowledge.
10 Take my discipline, not silver,
    and my knowledge rather than fine gold,
11 because wisdom is better than jewels.
    Nothing you desire can equal it.

Wisdom’s Authority

12 “I, Wisdom, live with insight,
    and I acquire knowledge and foresight.
13 To fear Yahweh is to hate evil.
    I hate pride, arrogance, evil behavior, and twisted speech.
14 Advice and priceless wisdom are mine.
    I, Understanding, have strength.
15 Through me kings reign,
    and rulers decree fair laws.
16 Through me princes rule,
    so do nobles and all fair judges.
17 I love those who love me.
    Those eagerly looking for me will find me.
18 I have riches and honor,
    lasting wealth and righteousness.
19 What I produce is better than gold, pure gold.
    What I yield is better than fine silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness, on the paths of justice,
21 to give an inheritance to those who love me
    and to fill their treasuries.

Wisdom as Creator

22 Yahweh already possessed me long ago,
    when his way began,
        before any of his works.
23 I was appointed from everlasting
    from the first,
        before the earth began.
24 I was born
    before there were oceans,
        before there were springs filled with water.
25 I was born
    before the mountains were settled in their places
        and before the hills,
26 when he had not yet made land or fields
    or the first dust of the world.

27 “When he set up the heavens, I was there.
    When he traced the horizon on the surface of the ocean,
28 when he established the skies above,
    when he determined the currents in the ocean,
29 when he set a limit for the sea
    so the waters would not overstep his command,
        when he traced the foundations of the earth,
30 I was beside him as a master craftsman.[b]
    I made him happy day after day,
        I rejoiced in front of him all the time,
31 found joy in his inhabited world,
    and delighted in the human race.

Wisdom as Lifegiver

32 “Now, sons, listen to me.
    Blessed are those who follow my ways.
33 Listen to discipline, and become wise.
    Do not leave my ways.
34 Blessed is the person who listens to me,
    watches at my door day after day,
        and waits by my doorposts.
35 Whoever finds me finds life
    and obtains favor from Yahweh.
36 Whoever sins against me harms himself.
    All those who hate me love death.”

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 8:5 English equivalent difficult.
  2. Proverbs 8:30 Hebrew meaning of “master craftsman” uncertain.

Wisdom’s Call

Does not wisdom call out?(A)
    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:(B)
“To you, O people, I call out;(C)
    I raise my voice to all mankind.
You who are simple,(D) gain prudence;(E)
    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,(F)
    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.
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)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 8:5 Septuagint; Hebrew foolish, instruct your minds
  2. Proverbs 8:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; other Hebrew manuscripts all righteous rulers
  3. Proverbs 8:22 Or way; or dominion
  4. 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
  5. Proverbs 8:30 Or was the artisan; or was a little child