Proverbs 8 - Expanded Bible (EXB)

Listen to Wisdom

8 ·Wisdom calls to you like someone shouting [L Does not Wisdom call out?];
·understanding raises [Does not Understanding raise…?] her voice.
2 On the ·hilltops [L top of the high places] along the road
and at the crossroads, she ·stands calling [takes her stand].
3 Beside the city gates,
at the entrances into the city, she calls out:
4 “Listen, ·everyone [men], I’m calling out to you;
·I am shouting [my voice goes out] to all ·people [L the sons of humanity].
5 You who are ·uneducated [simpleminded; immature; naive], ·seek wisdom [understand prudence].
You who are foolish, ·get understanding [L take this to heart].
6 Listen, because I have ·important [noble] things to say,
and what I tell you is ·right [virtuous].
7 ·What I say is true [L My mouth utters the truth],
·I refuse to speak evil [L my lips despise wickedness].
8 ·Everything I say is honest [L All the speeches of my mouth are righteous];
nothing I say is ·crooked [twisted] or ·false [perverse].
9 People ·with good sense [who understand] know what I say is ·true [straightforward];
and those ·with [L who seek] knowledge know my words are ·right [virtuous].
10 ·Choose [Take] my ·teachings [instructions; discipline] instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than ·the finest [choice] gold.
11 Wisdom is more precious than ·rubies [or pearls].
Nothing ·you could want is equal to [is more delightful than] it.

12 “I am Wisdom, and I ·have good judgment [dwell with prudence].
I also have knowledge and ·good sense [discretion].
13 ·If you respect the Lord, you will also [L Those who fear/have awe for the Lord] hate evil.
I hate pride and ·bragging [arrogance],
·evil ways [L the path of evil] and ·lies [L a perverse mouth].
14 I have advice and ·good sense [resourcefulness; ability],
and I have understanding and ·power [strength].
15 ·I help kings to govern [L By me kings reign]
and ·rulers [princes] ·to make fair laws [issue just decrees].
16 ·Princes use me to lead [L By me rulers rule],
and ·so do all important people who [nobles] judge fairly [Deut. 34:9; 1 Kin. 3:1–15; Ezra 7:25; Col. 1:16].
17 I love those who love me,
and those who seek me find me.
18 Riches and honor are mine to give.
So are lasting wealth and ·success [or righteousness].
19 What I give is better than gold, even the finest gold,
my ·results [yield] better than the purest silver.
20 I ·do what is right [L walk on the way of righteousness]
·and follow [L in the midst of] the path of justice.
21 I ·give wealth to those who love me [L cause those who love me to inherit substance],
filling their houses with treasures.

22 “The Lord ·begot [or acquired; possessed] me ·when he began his work [L at the beginning of his path],
long before he made anything else.
23 I was ·created [formed; woven; or appointed] in the very beginning,
even before the world began.
24 I was ·born [brought forth] ·before there were oceans [L when there were no deeps],
or springs ·overflowing [heavy] with water,
25 before the hills were ·there [L settled],
before the mountains I was ·born [brought forth].
26 God had not made the earth or ·fields [open country],
not even the first ·dust [mud clods; soil] of the earth.
27 I was there when God ·put the skies in place [established the heavens],
when he ·stretched [decreed] the horizon over the ·oceans [deep],
28 when he ·made [thickened; strengthened] the clouds above
and put the deep underground springs in place.
29 I was there when he ·ordered [decreed] the sea
not to go beyond the borders he had set.
I was there when he ·laid [decreed] the earth’s foundation.
30 I was like a ·child [nursling; or craftsman; architect] by his side.
I was ·delighted [playing] every day,
·enjoying [laughing in] his presence all the time,
31 ·enjoying [laughing with the inhabitants of] the whole world,
and ·delighted [playing] with all its people [John 1:1–3; Col. 1:15; C Jesus is associated with personified Wisdom in that both were present with God during creation].

32 “Now, my ·children [L sons], listen to me,
because those who ·follow my ways [guard my path] are happy.
33 Listen to my ·teaching [instruction], and you will be wise;
do not ·ignore [avoid] it.
34 Happy are those who listen to me,
watching at my door every day,
·waiting at my open doorway [L guarding my doorposts].
35 Those who find me find life,
and ·the Lord will be pleased with them [they gain favor from the Lord].
36 Those who ·do not find [miss; or offend] me hurt themselves.
Those who hate me love death.”

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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...
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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...
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Proverbs 8 - The Voice (VOICE)

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Proverbs 8 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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Proverbs 8 - New Living Translation (NLT)

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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 ...
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Proverbs 8 - New King James Version (NKJV)

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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...
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Proverbs 8 - New English Translation (NET)

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