Proverbs

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

1Isn't wisdom calling out? Isn't understanding raising her voice?

2She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.

2She stands on the high ground above the road, where the paths cross.

3She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.

3She calls out beside the city gates, at the entrances, where people come in the doors.

4Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.

4"I am calling to you, people. My voice goes out to everyone alive."

5O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

5"You who know so little, learn good sense. You who are fools, get an understanding heart."

6Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

6"Listen, because I will say things worth hearing. When I open my lips, what comes out is right."

7For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

7"My mouth speaks the truth. My lips hate what is wicked."

8All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.

8"Everything I say is honest and right. Nothing in my words is crooked or twisted."

9They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

9"My words are all clear to anyone who understands, and right to those who find knowledge."

10Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.

10"Take my teaching instead of silver. Take knowledge instead of the finest gold."

11For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

11"Wisdom is worth more than rubies. Nothing you could ever want compares with her."

12I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.

12"I, wisdom, live together with good sense. I know how to plan carefully and choose well."

Note"Witty inventions" in 1611 English did not mean clever gadgets. It meant knowing how to think a thing through and make a careful plan.

13The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

13"To respect the LORD is to hate evil. I hate pride, bragging, evil ways, and twisted talk."

14Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.

14"Good advice is mine, and sound judgment. I am understanding, and I have strength."

15By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.

15"Kings rule because of me. Rulers make fair laws because of me."

16By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

16"Because of me princes govern, and nobles too, and every judge on earth."

17I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

17"I love those who love me. Those who look for me early will find me."

18Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.

18"Riches and honor are with me, wealth that lasts, and a right way of living."

19My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.

19"What I give is better than gold, even pure gold. My harvest beats the best silver."

20I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:

20"I walk in the way of what is right, along the paths of justice."

21That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.

21"So those who love me receive real wealth, and I fill their storerooms."

22The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

22"The LORD had me at the very start of his work, before he made anything long ago."

NoteThe Hebrew word behind "possessed" can also be read as "made" or "got." Either way, the point is that wisdom was there before anything else.

23I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

23"I was set in place from forever ago, from the beginning, before the earth existed."

24When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.

24"I was brought forth when there were no oceans, when no springs were overflowing with water."

25Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:

25"Before the mountains were set in place, before the hills, I was brought forth."

26While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.

26"This was before he made the land, or the fields, or the first speck of the world's dust."

27When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:

27"I was there when he set the sky in place, when he drew a circle over the deep waters."

Note"Set a compass upon the face of the depth" means he drew a circle — the curved line of the horizon — over the deep water.

28When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:

28"I was there when he put the clouds above, and made the deep springs flow strong."

29When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

29"I was there when he gave the sea its limit, so the water would not go past his command. I was there when he marked out the foundations of the earth."

30Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;

30"Then I was right beside him, like a skilled worker. Day after day I was his joy, always glad in front of him."

31Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.

31"I was glad about the world he made for people to live in, and delighted in people themselves."

32Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.

32"So listen to me now, children. Happy are those who keep to my ways."

33Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

33"Listen to teaching and become wise. Do not turn it away."

34Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

34"Happy is the person who listens to me, waiting at my gates each day, watching by my doorposts."

35For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.

35"Whoever finds me finds life, and the LORD will be pleased with him."

36But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

36"But whoever misses me hurts himself. Everyone who hates me loves death."

Note"Sinneth against me" translates a word that means to miss, like missing a target. The verse is about missing wisdom, not attacking her.