New International Version

English Standard Version

Wisdom’s Call

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

1

The Blessings of Wisdom

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

2

At the highest point along the way,
where the paths meet, she takes her stand;

2

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

3

beside the gate leading into the city,
at the entrance, she cries aloud:

3

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

4

“To you, O people, I call out;
I raise my voice to all mankind.

4

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

5

You who are simple, gain prudence;
you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.a

5

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

6

Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say;
I open my lips to speak what is right.

6

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

7

My mouth speaks what is true,
for my lips detest wickedness.

7

for my mouth will utter truth;
wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

8

All the words of my mouth are just;
none of them is crooked or perverse.

8

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

9

To the discerning all of them are right;
they are upright to those who have found knowledge.

9

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

10

Choose my instruction instead of silver,
knowledge rather than choice gold,

10

Take my instruction instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than choice gold,

11

for wisdom is more precious than rubies,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.

11

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

12

“I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
I possess knowledge and discretion.

12

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

13

To fear the Lord is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech.

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 and sound judgment are mine;
I have insight, I have power.

14

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

15

By me kings reign
and rulers issue decrees that are just;

15

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

16

by me princes govern,
and nobles — all who rule on earth.b

16

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

17

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

17

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

18

With me are riches and honor,
enduring wealth and prosperity.

18

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

19

My fruit is better than fine gold;
what I yield surpasses choice silver.

19

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

20

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

20

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

21

bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me
and making their treasuries full.

21

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

22

“The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works,cd
before his deeds of old;

22

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

23

I was formed long ages ago,
at the very beginning, when the world came to be.

23

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

24

When there were no watery depths, I was given birth,
when there were no springs overflowing 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 in place,
before the hills, I was given birth,

25

Before the mountains had been shaped,
before the hills, I was brought forth,

26

before he made the world or its fields
or any of the dust of the earth.

26

before he had made the earth with its fields,
or the first of the dust of the world.

27

I was there when he set the heavens in place,
when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,

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
and fixed securely 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 the sea its boundary
so the waters would not overstep his command,
and when he marked out 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 constantlye at his side.
I was filled with delight day after day,
rejoicing always in his presence,

30

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

31

rejoicing in his whole world
and delighting in mankind.

31

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

32

“Now then, my children, listen to me;
blessed are those who keep my ways.

32

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

33

Listen to my instruction and be wise;
do not disregard it.

33

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

34

Blessed are those who listen to me,
watching daily at my doors,
waiting at my doorway.

34

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

35

For those who find me find life
and receive favor from the Lord.

35

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

36

But those who fail to find me harm themselves;
all who hate me love death.”

36

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

Parallel

New International Version

English Standard Version

Proverbs 8

Proverbs 8