The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Proverbs 08
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 sendmy 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.
Allthe 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 fruitis better thangold, yes,thanfine
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.”