King James Bible

English Standard Version

The Excellence of Wisdom

Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?

1

The Blessings of Wisdom

Does not wisdom call?
Does not understanding raise her voice?

2

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

2

On the heights beside the way,
at the crossroads she takes her stand;

3

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

3

beside the gates in front of the town,
at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:

4

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

4

“To you, O men, I call,
and my cry is to the children of man.

5

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

5

O simple ones, learn prudence;
O fools, learn sense.

6

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

6

Hear, for I will speak noble things,
and from my lips will come what is right,

7

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

7

for my mouth will utter truth;
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.

8

All the words of my mouth are righteous;
there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.

9

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

9

They are all straight to him who understands,
and right to those who find knowledge.

10

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

10

Take my instruction instead of 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.

11

for wisdom is better than jewels,
and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

12

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

12

“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
and I find knowledge and discretion.

13

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

13

The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.
Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
and perverted speech I hate.

14

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

14

I have counsel and sound wisdom;
I have insight; I have strength.

15

By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.

15

By me kings reign,
and rulers decree what is just;

16

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

16

by me princes rule,
and nobles, all who govern justly.a

17

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

17

I love those who love me,
and those who seek me diligently find me.

18

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

18

Riches and honor are with me,
enduring wealth and righteousness.

19

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

19

My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold,
and my yield than choice silver.

20

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

20

I walk in the way of righteousness,
in the paths of justice,

21

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

21

granting an inheritance to those who love me,
and filling their treasuries.

22

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

22

“The Lord possessedb me at the beginning of his work,c
the first of his acts of old.

23

I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

23

Ages ago I was set up,
at the first, before the beginning of the earth.

24

When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.

24

When there were no depths I was brought forth,
when there were no springs abounding with water.

25

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

25

Before the mountains had been shaped,
before the hills, I was 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.

26

before he had made the earth with its fields,
or the first 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:

27

When he established the heavens, I was there;
when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,

28

When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:

28

when he made firm the skies above,
when he establishedd the fountains of the deep,

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:

29

when he assigned to the sea its limit,
so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out 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;

30

then I was beside him, like a master workman,
and I was daily hise delight,
rejoicing before him always,

31

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

31

rejoicing in his inhabited world
and delighting in the children of man.

32

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

32

“And now, O sons, listen to me:
blessed are those who keep my ways.

33

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

33

Hear instruction and be wise,
and do not neglect it.

34

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

34

Blessed is the one who listens to me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting beside my doors.

35

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

35

For whoever finds me finds life
and obtains favor from the Lord,

36

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

36

but he who fails to find me injures himself;
all who hate me love death.”

Parallel

King James Bible

English Standard Version

Proverbs 8

Proverbs 8