Proverbs 8 - Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

Wisdom’s Appeal

8 Doesn’t wisdom(A) call out?
Doesn’t understanding make her voice heard?
2 At the heights overlooking the road,
at the crossroads, she takes her stand.
3 Beside the gates(B) leading into the city,
at the main entrance, she cries out:
4 “People, I call out to you;
my cry is to the children of Adam.
5 Learn to be shrewd, you who are inexperienced;
develop common sense, you who are foolish.
6 Listen, for I speak of noble things,
and what my lips say is right.
7 For my mouth tells the truth,(C)
and wickedness is detestable to my lips.
8 All the words from my mouth are righteous;
none of them are deceptive or perverse.(D)
9 All of them are clear to the perceptive,(E)
and right to those who discover knowledge.
10 Accept my instruction instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than pure gold.(F)
11 For wisdom is better than jewels,(G)
and nothing desirable can equal it.(H)
12 I, wisdom, share a home with shrewdness
and have knowledge and discretion.(I)
13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil.(J)
I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct,
and perverse speech.
14 I possess good advice and sound wisdom;[a]
I have understanding and strength.(K)
15 It is by me that kings reign(L)
and rulers enact just law;
16 by me, princes lead,
as do nobles and all righteous judges.[b]
17 I love those who love me,(M)
and those who search for me find me.(N)
18 With me are riches and honor,(O)
lasting wealth and righteousness.(P)
19 My fruit is better than solid gold,
and my harvest than pure silver.(Q)
20 I walk in the ways of righteousness,
along the paths of justice,
21 giving wealth as an inheritance to those who love me,
and filling their treasuries.

22 “The Lord acquired[c] me
at the beginning of his creation,[d]
before his works of long ago.(R)
23 I was formed[e] before ancient times,
from the beginning, before the earth began.(S)
24 I was born
when there were no watery depths(T)
and no springs filled with water.
25 Before the mountains were established,
prior to the hills,(U) I was given birth—
26 before he made the land, the fields,
or the first soil on earth.
27 I was there when he established the heavens,(V)
when he laid out the horizon on the surface of the ocean,(W)
28 when he placed the skies above,
when the fountains of the ocean gushed out,
29 when he set a limit for the sea
so that the waters would not violate his command,(X)
when he laid out the foundations of the earth.(Y)
30 I was a skilled craftsman[f] beside him.(Z)
I was his[g] delight every day,
always rejoicing before him.
31 I was rejoicing in his inhabited world,(AA)
delighting in the children of Adam.(AB)

32 “And now, sons, listen to me;
those who keep my ways are happy.(AC)
33 Listen to instruction and be wise;(AD)
don’t ignore it.
34 Anyone who listens to me is happy,(AE)
watching at my doors every day,
waiting by the posts of my doorway.
35 For the one who finds me finds life(AF)
and obtains favor from the Lord,(AG)
36 but the one who misses me[h] harms himself;(AH)
all who hate me love death.”(AI)

Footnotes

  1. 8:14 Or resourcefulness
  2. 8:16 Some Hb mss, LXX read nobles who judge the earth
  3. 8:22 Or possessed, or made
  4. 8:22 Lit way
  5. 8:23 Or consecrated
  6. 8:30 Or a confidant, or a child, or was constantly
  7. 8:30 LXX; MT omits his
  8. 8:36 Or who sins against me

Cross references

  1. 8:1–3 : Pr 1:20–21; 9:3,13–15
  2. 8:3 : Jb 29:7
  3. 8:7 : Ps 37:30
  4. 8:8 : Dt 32:5; Pr 2:15; Php 2:15
  5. 8:9 : Pr 14:6
  6. 8:10 : Pr 3:14–15; 8:19; 16:16
  7. 8:11 : Jb 28:12–19
  8. 8:11 : Pr 3:15; 20:15
  9. 8:12 : Pr 1:4
  10. 8:13 : Pr 16:6
  11. 8:14 : Ec 7:19
  12. 8:15 : 2Ch 1:10; Dn 2:21; Rm 13:1
  13. 8:17 : 1Sm 2:30; Jn 14:21
  14. 8:17 : Pr 1:28; 2:4–5; Jms 1:5
  15. 8:18 : Pr 3:16
  16. 8:18 : Ps 112:3; Mt 6:33
  17. 8:19 : Jb 28:15; Pr 3:14; 8:10; 16:16
  18. 8:22 : Gn 1:1; Jb 28:26–28; Ps 104:24
  19. 8:23 : Jn 1:1–3; 17:5
  20. 8:24 : Gn 1:2; Pr 3:20
  21. 8:25 : Ps 90:2
  22. 8:27 : Pr 3:19
  23. 8:27 : Jb 26:10
  24. 8:29 : Jb 38:8–11; Ps 104:9
  25. 8:29 : Jb 38:4–5; Ps 104:5
  26. 8:30 : Jb 28:20–27; 38–39; Pr 3:19–20; Jr 10:12; 51:15; Zch 13:7; Jn 1:2–3
  27. 8:31 : Jb 38:4–7
  28. 8:31 : Heb 2:6–8
  29. 8:32 : Ps 119:1–2; 128:1; Lk 11:28
  30. 8:33 : Pr 4:1
  31. 8:34 : Pr 3:13
  32. 8:35 : Pr 4:4,22; 7:2; 9:11; 12:28; Jn 17:3
  33. 8:35 : Pr 3:4; 12:2; 13:13; 18:22
  34. 8:36 : Pr 15:32
  35. 8:36 : Pr 11:19; 21:6

You Might Also Like:

Proverbs 8 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

8 Doth not wisdom call? And understanding give forth her voice? 2 At the head of high places by the way, Between the paths she hath stood, 3 At the side of the gates, at the mouth of the city, The entrance of the openings, she crieth aloud, 4 `Unto you, O men, I call, And my voice [is] unto the sons...
Read More

Proverbs 8 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

8 Whether wisdom crieth not oft; and prudence giveth her voice? (Whether not wisdom crieth often, and understanding giveth forth her voice?) 2 In most sovereign and high tops, above the way, in the midst of paths, (On hilltops, on the way, in the midst of paths,) 3 and it standeth beside the gate(s)...
Read More

Proverbs 8 - World English Bible (WEB)

8 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 send my voice to the sons of mankind.5 You simple, unders...
Read More

Proverbs 8 - The Voice (VOICE)

8 Isn’t Lady Wisdom calling? Listen; don’t you hear the voice of understanding crying out?2 She’s taken her stand at the highest place in the city, at the crossroads where everyone can see her.3 There, and at the gates, at the entrance to the city, right in front of the city doors she cries out: 4 L...
Read More

Proverbs 8 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Wisdom Appeals at the Gates8 Does not wisdom cry out,and understanding lift her voice?2 On the topmost heights along the way,at the crossroads, she takes her stand.3 Beside the gates leading into the city,at the entrances, she cries aloud:4 “To you, O men, I call out!My cry is to all mankind!5 O naï...
Read More

Proverbs 8 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

The Gifts of Wisdom8 Does not wisdom call,does not understanding raise her voice?2 On the heights beside the way, in the paths she takes her stand;3 beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:4 “To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the sons of men.5 O si...
Read More

Proverbs 8 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

The Gifts of Wisdom8 Does not wisdom call, Does not understanding raise her voice?2 On the heights beside the way, in the paths she takes her stand;3 beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:4 “To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the sons of men.5 O s...
Read More

Proverbs 8 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

The Gifts of Wisdom8 Does not wisdom call, and does not understanding raise her voice?2 On the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand;3 beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries out:4 ‘To you, O people, I call, and my cry is to all that l...
Read More

Proverbs 8 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The Gifts of Wisdom8 Does not wisdom call and understanding raise her voice?(A)2 On the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand;3 beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries out:(B)4 “To you, O people, I call, and my cry is to all who live.5...
Read More

Proverbs 8 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Wisdom Calls for a Hearing8 Listen as Wisdom calls out! Hear as understanding raises her voice!2 On the hilltop along the road, she takes her stand at the crossroads.3 By the gates at the entrance to the town, on the road leading in, she cries aloud,4 “I call to you, to all of you! I raise my voice ...
Read More

Proverbs 8 - New Life Version (NLV)

Praising Wisdom8 Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice? 2 She takes her stand on the top of the hill beside the way, where the paths meet. 3 Beside the gates in front of the town, at the open doors, she cries out, 4 “I call to you, O men. My voice is to the sons of men. 5 ...
Read More

Proverbs 8 - New King James Version (NKJV)

The Excellence of Wisdom8 Does not (A)wisdom cry out,And understanding lift up her voice?2 She takes her stand on the top of the [a]high hill,Beside the way, where the paths meet.3 She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city,At the entrance of the doors:4 “To you, O men, I call,And my voice...
Read More

Proverbs 8 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Wisdom’s call8 Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?2 At the highest point along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand;3 beside the gate leading into the city, at the entrance, she cries aloud:4 ‘To you, O people, I call out; I raise my voice to all humanity....
Read More

Proverbs 8 - New International Version (NIV)

Wisdom’s Call8 Does not wisdom call out?(A) Does not understanding raise her voice?2 At the highest point along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand;3 beside the gate leading into the city, at the entrance, she cries aloud:(B)4 “To you, O people, I call out;(C) I raise my voice to all ...
Read More

Proverbs 8 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Wisdom Calls Out8 Doesn’t wisdom call out? Doesn’t understanding raise her voice?2 At the highest point along the way, she takes her place where the paths meet.3 Beside the gate leading into the city, she cries out at the entrance. She says,4 “People, I call out to you. I raise my voice to all human...
Read More

Proverbs 8 - New English Translation (NET)

The Appeal of Wisdom[a]8 Does not wisdom call out?Does not understanding raise her voice?2 At the top[b] of the prominent places along the way,at the intersection[c] of the paths she has taken her stand;3 beside the gates opening into[d] the city,at the entrance of the doorways she cries out:[e]4 “T...
Read More