Proverbs 8
8
The Blessings of Wisdom
1Does not #See ch. 1:20 wisdom call?
Does not #Job 28:12understanding raise her voice?
2On #ch. 9:3, 14the heights beside the way,
at the crossroads she takes her stand;
3beside #ch. 1:21 the gates in front of #Job 29:7the town,
at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:
4“To you, O #[Ps. 49:1, 2]men, I call,
and my cry is to #[Ps. 49:1, 2]the children of man.
5O #See ch. 1:4 simple ones, learn #ver. 12 prudence;
O #[ch. 1:22]fools, learn sense.
6Hear, for I will speak #[ch. 22:20] noble things,
and from my lips will come #ch. 23:16what is right,
7for my #Ps. 37:30mouth will utter truth;
wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8All the words of my mouth are righteous;
there is nothing #Deut. 32:5twisted or crooked in them.
9They are all #[ch. 14:6; 1 Cor. 2:10]straight to him who understands,
and right to those who find knowledge.
10 # ver. 19; ch. 3:14; Ps. 119:72, 127 Take my instruction instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than choice gold,
11 # [ch. 16:16]; See Job 28:12-19 for wisdom is better than jewels,
and #ch. 3:15all that you may desire cannot compare with her.
12“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
and I find knowledge and #ch. 1:4discretion.
13 # [ch. 16:6] The fear of the Lord is #See Ps. 97:10 hatred of evil.
# [ch. 6:17; 16:5] Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
and #ch. 2:12; 4:24perverted speech I hate.
14I have #Isa. 11:2; [Isa. 9:6] counsel and #[ch. 2:7] sound wisdom;
I have insight; #Eccles. 7:19; [Ps. 89:19]I have strength.
15By me #[Dan. 2:21; Rom. 13:1; Rev. 19:16]kings reign,
and rulers decree what is just;
16by me princes rule,
and nobles, all who govern justly.#8:16 Most Hebrew manuscripts; many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint govern the earth
17 #
Ps. 91:14; John 14:21; [1 Sam. 2:30] I love those who love me,
and #James 1:5; [ch. 1:28]those who seek me diligently find me.
18 # ch. 3:16 Riches and honor are with me,
#
Ps. 112:3; [Matt. 6:33; Luke 16:11; Eph. 3:8] enduring wealth and #Ps. 112:3; [Matt. 6:33; Luke 16:11; Eph. 3:8]righteousness.
19My fruit is #ch. 3:14 better than #ver. 10 gold, even fine gold,
and my yield than #ch. 10:20choice 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 # See Job 28:25-28 “The Lord #Gen. 14:19, 22; [Ps. 104:24; 136:5] possessed#8:22 Or fathered; Septuagint created me at the beginning of his work,#8:22 Hebrew way
the first of his acts #Ps. 93:2of old.
23Ages ago I was #Ps. 2:6 set up,
at the first, #[John 17:5]before the beginning of the earth.
24When there were no #ver. 27, 28; ch. 3:20; Gen. 1:2 depths I was #Job 15:7; Ps. 51:5brought forth,
when there were no springs abounding with water.
25Before the mountains #Job 38:6 (Heb.) had been shaped,
#
Ps. 90:2
before the hills, I was brought forth,
26before he had made the earth with its fields,
or the first of the dust of the world.
27When he #ch. 3:19 established the heavens, I was there;
when he drew #Job 26:10a circle on the face of the deep,
28when he #Gen. 1:6made firm the skies above,
when he established#8:28 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain the fountains of the deep,
29when he #Gen. 1:9, 10 assigned to the sea its #See Job 26:10 limit,
so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out #See Ps. 104:5the foundations of the earth,
30then #Zech. 13:7; [John 1:1, 2] I was beside him, like a master workman,
and I was daily his#8:30 Or daily filled with #Ps. 16:3; [Matt. 3:17]delight,
rejoicing before him always,
31 # [Gen. 1:31; Ps. 104:31] rejoicing in his #Isa. 45:18inhabited world
and delighting in the children of man.
32“And now, #ch. 5:7; 7:24; [1 John 3:1] O sons, listen to me:
#
Ps. 119:1, 2; 128:1, 2; [Luke 11:28] blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 # See ch. 4:1 Hear instruction and be wise,
and do not neglect it.
34 # [ch. 3:13] Blessed is the one who listens to me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting beside my doors.
35For #ch. 3:18; See ch. 4:22 whoever finds me #John 1:4; 17:3 finds life
and #ch. 12:2; 18:22obtains favor from the Lord,
36but he who fails to find me #[ch. 15:32; 20:2; 29:24] injures himself;
all who #ch. 12:1 hate me #ch. 21:6love death.”
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Proverbs 8: ESV
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