Proverbs – Chapter 8

1 Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth His voice?

2 He standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.

3 He crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.

4 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.

5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.

9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.

11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.

13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.

15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.

16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.

19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.

20 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:

21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.

22 The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

23 I was set up from antiquity (*), from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

(*) This word can be translated as “everlasting” like many places, but perhaps here it would be more accurate to be translated as “antiquity” or “ancient times” or “olden times” like many other places, to denote a certain point of time very far off in the past.

24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth (*); when there were no fountains abounding with water,

(*) Compare with [07] I Corinthians 1:24 to know who “the Wisdom of God” is. That’s why the verse said He was brought forth by God.

25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:

26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.

27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:

28 When he established the skies (*) above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:

(*) Referring to the layers of atmosphere that was designed to hold onto the planet and not scattered away from the it. This word can also be translated as “clouds”, but perhaps then, in this translator’s humble opinion, it would not match the verb “establish” right before it, because clouds fly off to places, and even turn into rain and fall down to the earth, not remaining in the sky, so it is just unreasonable to said that they are “established”.

29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;

31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.

32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.

33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord.

36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.