Proverbs 8 ESV | WeDevote Bible

The Blessings of Wisdom

1Does not 8:1 See ch. 1:20wisdom call?

Does not 8:1 Job 28:12understanding raise her voice?

2On 8:2 ch. 9:3, 14the heights beside the way,

at the crossroads she takes her stand;

3beside 8:3 ch. 1:21the gates in front of 8:3 Job 29:7the town,

at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:

4“To you, O 8:4 [Ps. 49:1, 2]men, I call,

and my cry is to 8:4 [Ps. 49:1, 2]the children of man.

5O 8:5 See ch. 1:4simple ones, learn 8:5 ver. 12prudence;

O 8:5 [ch. 1:22]fools, learn sense.

6Hear, for I will speak 8:6 [ch. 22:20] noble things,

and from my lips will come 8:6 ch. 23:16what is right,

7for my 8:7 Ps. 37:30mouth will utter truth;

wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

8All the words of my mouth are righteous;

there is nothing 8:8 Deut. 32:5twisted or crooked in them.

9They are all 8:9 [ch. 14:6; 1 Cor. 2:10]straight to him who understands,

and right to those who find knowledge.

108:10 ver. 19; ch. 3:14; Ps. 119:72, 127Take my instruction instead of silver,

and knowledge rather than choice gold,

118:11 [ch. 16:16]; See Job 28:12-19for wisdom is better than jewels,

and 8:11 ch. 3:15all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

12“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,

and I find knowledge and 8:12 ch. 1:4discretion.

138:13 [ch. 16:6] The fear of the Lord is 8:13 See Ps. 97:10hatred of evil.

8:13 [ch. 6:17; 16:5] Pride and arrogance and the way of evil

and 8:13 ch. 2:12; 4:24perverted speech I hate.

14I have 8:14 Isa. 11:2; [Isa. 9:6] counsel and 8:14 [ch. 2:7] sound wisdom;

I have insight; 8:14 Eccles. 7:19; [Ps. 89:19]I have strength.

15By me 8:15 [Dan. 2:21; Rom. 13:1; Rev. 19:16]kings reign,

and rulers decree what is just;

16by me princes rule,

and nobles, all who govern justly.8:16 Most Hebrew manuscripts; many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint govern the earth

178:17 Ps. 91:14; John 14:21; [1 Sam. 2:30] I love those who love me,

and 8:17 James 1:5; [ch. 1:28]those who seek me diligently find me.

188:18 ch. 3:16Riches and honor are with me,

8:18 Ps. 112:3; [Matt. 6:33; Luke 16:11; Eph. 3:8]enduring wealth and 8:18 Ps. 112:3; [Matt. 6:33; Luke 16:11; Eph. 3:8]righteousness.

19My fruit is 8:19 ch. 3:14better than 8:19 ver. 10gold, even fine gold,

and my yield than 8:19 ch. 10:20choice silver.

20I walk in the way of righteousness,

in the paths of justice,

21granting an inheritance to those who love me,

and filling their treasuries.

228:22 See Job 28:25-28“The Lord8:22 Gen. 14:19, 22; [Ps. 104:24; 136:5] possessed8:22 Or fathered; Septuagint created me at the beginning of his work,8:22 Hebrew way

the first of his acts 8:22 Ps. 93:2of old.

23Ages ago I was 8:23 Ps. 2:6set up,

at the first, 8:23 [John 17:5]before the beginning of the earth.

24When there were no 8:24 ver. 27, 28; ch. 3:20; Gen. 1:2depths I was 8:24 Job 15:7; Ps. 51:5brought forth,

when there were no springs abounding with water.

25Before the mountains 8:25 Job 38:6 (Heb.) had been shaped,

8:25 Ps. 90:2before the hills, I was brought forth,

26before he had made the earth with its fields,

or the first of the dust of the world.

27When he 8:27 ch. 3:19established the heavens, I was there;

when he drew 8:27 Job 26:10a circle on the face of the deep,

28when he 8:28 Gen. 1:6made firm the skies above,

when he established8:28 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain the fountains of the deep,

29when he 8:29 Gen. 1:9, 10assigned to the sea its 8:29 See Job 26:10limit,

so that the waters might not transgress his command,

when he marked out 8:29 See Ps. 104:5the foundations of the earth,

30then 8:30 Zech. 13:7; [John 1:1, 2] I was beside him, like a master workman,

and I was daily his8:30 Or daily filled with8:30 Ps. 16:3; [Matt. 3:17]delight,

rejoicing before him always,

318:31 [Gen. 1:31; Ps. 104:31] rejoicing in his 8:31 Isa. 45:18inhabited world

and delighting in the children of man.

32“And now, 8:32 ch. 5:7; 7:24; [1 John 3:1] O sons, listen to me:

8:32 Ps. 119:1, 2; 128:1, 2; [Luke 11:28]blessed are those who keep my ways.

338:33 See ch. 4:1Hear instruction and be wise,

and do not neglect it.

348:34 [ch. 3:13]Blessed is the one who listens to me,

watching daily at my gates,

waiting beside my doors.

35For 8:35 ch. 3:18; See ch. 4:22whoever finds me 8:35 John 1:4; 17:3finds life

and 8:35 ch. 12:2; 18:22obtains favor from the Lord,

36but he who fails to find me 8:36 [ch. 15:32; 20:2; 29:24] injures himself;

all who 8:36 ch. 12:1hate me 8:36 ch. 21:6love death.”

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