Proverbs 8 – search, read, and compare multiple versions of the Bible
World English Bible Classic
[1] Doesn’t wisdom cry out?
Doesn’t understanding raise her voice?
[2] On the top of high places by the way,
where the paths meet, she stands.
[3] Beside the gates, at the entry of the city,
at the entry doors, she cries aloud:
[4] “I call to you men!
I send my voice to the sons of mankind.
[5] You simple, understand prudence!
You fools, be of an understanding heart!
[6] Hear, for I will speak excellent things.
The opening of my lips is for right things.
[7] For my mouth speaks truth.
Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
[8] All the words of my mouth are in righteousness.
There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
[9] They are all plain to him who understands,
right to those who find knowledge.
[10] Receive my instruction rather than silver,
knowledge rather than choice gold.
[11] For wisdom is better than rubies.
All the things that may be desired can’t be compared to it. [12] “I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling.
Find out knowledge and discretion.
[13] The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil.
I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.
[14] Counsel and sound knowledge are mine.
I have understanding and power.
[15] By me kings reign,
and princes decree justice.
[16] By me princes rule,
nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth.
[17] I love those who love me.
Those who seek me diligently will find me.
[18] With me are riches, honor,
enduring wealth, and prosperity.
[19] My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold,
my yield than choice silver.
[20] I walk in the way of righteousness,
in the middle of the paths of justice,
[21] that I may give wealth to those who love me.
I fill their treasuries. [22] “Yahweh possessed me in the beginning of his work,
before his deeds of old.
[23] I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning,
before the earth existed.
[24] When there were no depths, I was born,
when there were no springs abounding with water.
[25] Before the mountains were settled in place,
before the hills, I was born;
[26] while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields,
nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
[27] When he established the heavens, I was there.
When he set a circle on the surface of the deep,
[28] when he established the clouds above,
when the springs of the deep became strong,
[29] when he gave to the sea its boundary,
that the waters should not violate his commandment,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
[30] then I was the craftsman by his side.
I was a delight day by day,
always rejoicing before him,
[31] rejoicing in his whole world.
My delight was with the sons of men. [32] “Now therefore, my sons, listen to me,
for blessed are those who keep my ways.
[33] Hear instruction, and be wise.
Don’t refuse it.
[34] Blessed is the man who hears me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting at my door posts.
[35] For whoever finds me finds life,
and will obtain favor from Yahweh.
[36] But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul.
All those who hate me love death.”
Doesn’t understanding raise her voice?
[2] On the top of high places by the way,
where the paths meet, she stands.
[3] Beside the gates, at the entry of the city,
at the entry doors, she cries aloud:
[4] “I call to you men!
I send my voice to the sons of mankind.
[5] You simple, understand prudence!
You fools, be of an understanding heart!
[6] Hear, for I will speak excellent things.
The opening of my lips is for right things.
[7] For my mouth speaks truth.
Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
[8] All the words of my mouth are in righteousness.
There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
[9] They are all plain to him who understands,
right to those who find knowledge.
[10] Receive my instruction rather than silver,
knowledge rather than choice gold.
[11] For wisdom is better than rubies.
All the things that may be desired can’t be compared to it. [12] “I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling.
Find out knowledge and discretion.
[13] The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil.
I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.
[14] Counsel and sound knowledge are mine.
I have understanding and power.
[15] By me kings reign,
and princes decree justice.
[16] By me princes rule,
nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth.
[17] I love those who love me.
Those who seek me diligently will find me.
[18] With me are riches, honor,
enduring wealth, and prosperity.
[19] My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold,
my yield than choice silver.
[20] I walk in the way of righteousness,
in the middle of the paths of justice,
[21] that I may give wealth to those who love me.
I fill their treasuries. [22] “Yahweh possessed me in the beginning of his work,
before his deeds of old.
[23] I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning,
before the earth existed.
[24] When there were no depths, I was born,
when there were no springs abounding with water.
[25] Before the mountains were settled in place,
before the hills, I was born;
[26] while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields,
nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
[27] When he established the heavens, I was there.
When he set a circle on the surface of the deep,
[28] when he established the clouds above,
when the springs of the deep became strong,
[29] when he gave to the sea its boundary,
that the waters should not violate his commandment,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
[30] then I was the craftsman by his side.
I was a delight day by day,
always rejoicing before him,
[31] rejoicing in his whole world.
My delight was with the sons of men. [32] “Now therefore, my sons, listen to me,
for blessed are those who keep my ways.
[33] Hear instruction, and be wise.
Don’t refuse it.
[34] Blessed is the man who hears me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting at my door posts.
[35] For whoever finds me finds life,
and will obtain favor from Yahweh.
[36] But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul.
All those who hate me love death.”
King James Version
Wisdom and Folly
[1] Doth not wisdom H2451 cry? H7121 (QalImpf)And understanding H8394 put forth H5414 (QalImpf) her voice? H6963
[2] She standeth H5324 (NiphPerf) in the top H7218 of high places, H4791 by the way H1870
In the places H1004 of the paths. H5410
[3] She crieth H7442 (QalImpf) at H3027 the gates, H8179 at the entry H6310 of the city, H7176
At the coming H3996 in at the doors. H6607
[4] Unto you, O men, H376 I call; H7121 (QalImpf)
And my voice H6963 is to the sons H1121 of man. H120
[5] O ye simple, H6612 understand H995 (HiphImpv) wisdom: H6195
And, ye fools, H3684 be ye of an understanding H995 (HiphImpv) heart. H3820
[6] Hear; H8085 (QalImpv) for I will speak H1696 (PielImpf) of excellent things; H5057
And the opening H4669 of my lips H8193 shall be right things. H4339
[7] For my mouth H2441 shall speak H1897 (QalImpf) truth; H571
And wickedness H7562 is an abomination H8441 to my lips. H8193§
[8] All the words H561 of my mouth H6310 are in righteousness; H6664
There is nothing froward§ H6617 (NiphPtc) or perverse H6141 in them.
[9] They are all plain H5228 to him that understandeth, H995 (HiphPtc)
And right H3477 to them that find H4672 (QalActPtc) knowledge. H1847
[10] Receive H3947 (QalImpv) my instruction, H4148 and not silver; H3701
And knowledge H1847 rather than choice H977 (NiphPtc) gold. H2742
[11] For wisdom H2451 is better H2896 than rubies; H6443
And all the things that may be desired H2656 are not to be compared H7737 (QalImpf) to it.
[12] I wisdom H2451 dwell H7931 (QalPerf) with prudence, H6195§
And find out H4672 (QalImpf) knowledge H1847 of witty inventions. H4209
[13] The fear H3374 of the Lord H3068 is to hate H8130 (QalInf) evil: H7451
Pride, H1344 and arrogancy, H1347 and the evil H7451 way, H1870
And the froward H8419 mouth, H6310 do I hate. H8130 (QalPerf)
[14] Counsel H6098 is mine, and sound wisdom: H8454
I am understanding; H998 I have strength. H1369
[15] By me kings H4428 reign, H4427 (QalImpf)
And princes H7336 (QalActPtc) decree H2710 (PoelImpf) justice. H6664
[16] By me princes H8269 rule, H8323 (QalImpf)
And nobles, H5081 even all the judges H8199 (QalActPtc) of the earth. H776
[17] I love H157 (QalImpf) them that love H157 (QalActPtc) me;
And those that seek me early H7836 (PielPtc) shall find H4672 (QalImpf) me.
[18] Riches H6239 and honour H3519 are with me;
Yea, durable H6276 riches H1952 and righteousness. H6666
[19] My fruit H6529 is better H2896 than gold, H2742 yea, than fine gold; H6337
And my revenue H8393 than choice H977 (NiphPtc) silver. H3701
[20] I lead H1980 (PielImpf)§ in the way H734 of righteousness, H6666
In the midst H8432 of the paths H5410 of judgment: H4941
[21] That I may cause those that love H157 (QalActPtc) me to inherit H5157 (HiphInf) substance; H3426
And I will fill H4390 (PielImpf) their treasures. H214
[22] The Lord H3068 possessed H7069 (QalPerf) me in the beginning H7225 of his way, H1870
Before H6924 his works H4659 of old.
[23] I was set up H5258 (NiphPerf) from everlasting, H5769 from the beginning, H7218
Or ever H6924 the earth H776 was.
[24] When there were no depths, H8415 I was brought forth; H2342 (PulaPerf)
When there were no fountains H4599 abounding H3513 (NiphPtc) with water. H4325
[25] Before the mountains H2022 were settled, H2883 (HophPerf)
Before H6440 the hills H1389 was I brought forth: H2342 (PulaPerf)
[26] While as yet he had not made H6213 (QalPerf) the earth, H776 nor the fields, H2351§
Nor the highest§ part H7218 of the dust H6083 of the world. H8398
[27] When he prepared H3559 (HiphInf) the heavens, H8064 I was there:
When he set H2710 (QalInf) a compass H2329§ upon the face H6440 of the depth: H8415
[28] When he established H553 (PielInf) the clouds H7834 above: H4605
When he strengthened H5810 (QalInf) the fountains H5869 of the deep: H8415
[29] When he gave H7760 (QalInf) to the sea H3220 his decree, H2706
That the waters H4325 should not pass H5674 (QalImpf) his commandment: H6310
When he appointed H2710 (QalInf) the foundations H4144 of the earth: H776
[30] Then I was by him, H681 as one brought up H525 with him:
And I was daily H3117 his delight, H8191
Rejoicing H7832 (PielPtc) always H6256 before H6440 him;
[31] Rejoicing H7832 (PielPtc) in the habitable part H8398 of his earth; H776
And my delights H8191 were with the sons H1121 of men. H120
[32] Now therefore hearken H8085 (QalImpv) unto me, O ye children: H1121
For blessed H835 are they that keep H8104 (QalImpf) my ways. H1870
[33] Hear H8085 (QalImpv) instruction, H4148 and be wise, H2449 (QalImpv)
And refuse H6544 (QalImpf) it not.
[34] Blessed H835 is the man H120 that heareth H8085 (QalActPtc) me,
Watching H8245 (QalInf) daily H3117 at my gates, H1817
Waiting H8104 (QalInf) at the posts H4201 of my doors. H6607
[35] For whoso findeth H4672 (QalActPtc) me findeth H4672 (QalPerf/Qere) life, H2416
And shall obtain H6329 (HiphImpf)§ favour H7522 of the Lord. H3068
[36] But he that sinneth H2398 (QalActPtc) against me wrongeth H2554 (QalActPtc) his own soul: H5315
All they that hate H8130 (PielPtc) me love H157 (QalPerf) death. H4194
Footnotes
- § 8:7 Heb. the abomination of my lips
- § 8:8 Heb. wreathed
- § 8:12 Or, subtilty
- § 8:20 Or, walk
- § 8:26a Or, open places
- § 8:26b Or, the chief part
- § 8:27 Or, a circle
- § 8:35 Heb. bring forth
Byzantine Greek New Testament
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