Proverbs 8

1 Does not [certainly not, by no means] wisdom [skill, prudence, or good judgment] call out [cry, utter her voice], and understanding [intelligence, insight, or discretion] raise [put forth, give] her voice [sound, utterance]? word study 2 On the heights [at the top of high places, on hilltops] overlooking the road [by the way, along the path], at the crossroads [where the paths meet, in the midst of the paths] she takes her stand [to station herself, as an appointed official]. word study 3 Beside the gates [at the entrance, by the doors] to the city [town, place of gathering], at the entrances [entry points, openings] she cries out [shouts loudly, sings for joy]: word study 4 “To you, O men [mankind, humanity], I call out [cry, shout loudly], and my cry [voice, sound] is to the sons [children, descendants] of men [humanity, the descendants of Adam]. word study 5 O simple ones [easily influenced, naive], learn to be shrewd [understand prudence, have good sense]; O fools [stupid, rejecting God], gain understanding [of the heart, with discernment, wisdom]. word study 6 Listen [give ear, hearken], for I speak [declare, utter] of noble [excellent, valuable] things, and the opening [utterance, doorway] of my lips [language, speech] will reveal [be opened to preach, teach] right [uprightness, what is fair and just]. word study 7 For my mouth [speaks from the heart] will speak the truth [faithfulness, stability], and wickedness [immoral actions, evil] is detestable [an abomination, disgusting] to my lips [the edge of my mouth, my language]. word study 8 All [every single one] the words [sayings, utterances] of my mouth [lips, speech] are righteous [in righteousness, just]; none [nothing] are crooked [twisted, froward] or perverse [distorted, morally corrupt]. word study 9 They are all plain [plain to understand, straightforward] to the discerning [one who understands, has insight], and upright [right, just, morally straight] to those who find [attain, discover] knowledge [understanding, wisdom]. word study 10 Receive [take, get, acquire] my instruction [discipline, correction, guidance] instead of [rather than, not] silver [money, wealth], and knowledge [understanding, wisdom] rather than [in preference to] pure [choice, refined] gold [something sharp, dug, valuable]. word study 11 For [because of this reason] wisdom [skill, prudence, or good judgment] is more precious [valuable, highly esteemed] than rubies [jewels, precious stones], and nothing [not a single thing] you desire [long for, wish to have] compares [is equal, can be measured] with her [it, this wisdom]. word study 12 I, wisdom [skill and good judgment], dwell together [in harmony, as a close companion] with prudence [and craftiness, or good sense], and I find [discover, attain] knowledge [and understanding, or discernment] and discretion [wise decision-making, or wise purposes]. word study 13 To fear [reverence, respect] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] is to hate [intensely dislike, reject] evil [bad, morally harmful]; I hate [detest, abhor] arrogant [excessive, proud] pride [haughtiness, self-importance], evil [wicked, harmful] conduct [behavior, way of life], and perverse [froward, stubborn] speech [words, mouth]. word study 14 Counsel [wise advice, plan, or purpose] and sound judgment [discernment, wisdom, or understanding] are mine; I have insight [understanding, discernment, or sound knowledge] and strength [might, power, or bravery]. word study 15 By me [through my wisdom, with my guidance] kings [rulers, monarchs] reign [rule, have dominion], and rulers [princes, leaders] enact [decree, establish] just [righteous, fair] laws [judgments, decrees]; word study 16 By me [through my wisdom, with my help] princes [rulers, leaders] rule, and all [every one of] nobles [generous, high-ranking individuals] who govern [judge, rule with justice] justly [in righteousness, with fairness]. word study 17 I [the embodiment of wisdom] love [have affection for, cherish] those who love [diligently seek, are devoted to] me, and those who seek [search for, diligently pursue] me early [in the morning, with eagerness] shall find [discover, attain] me. word study 18 With me [in my presence, near to me] are riches [wealth, treasures] and honor [glory, great respect], enduring [lasting, durable] wealth [substance, valuable possessions] and righteousness [moral virtue, justice, including God’s justice and virtue]. word study 19 My fruit [produce, outcome of my presence] is better [more valuable, superior] than gold [fine gold, refined gold], pure gold [unadulterated, precious metal], and my harvest [revenue, crops] surpasses [exceeds, is more desirable than] choice [selected, preferred] silver [wealth, treasure]. word study 20 I walk [live, go] in the way [path, road] of righteousness [justice, virtue], along [in the midst of, through] the paths [roads, tracks] of justice [judgment, fairness], word study 21 bestowing [granting abundantly] wealth [substance, riches] on those who [truly, deeply] love [have affection for] me and making [filling completely] their treasuries [storehouses, treasure houses] full [abundant, overflowing]. word study 22 The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] created [possessed, acquired] me as His first [beginning, initial] course [work, deed], before [prior to, in front of] His works [deeds, actions] of old [from the past, long ago]. word study 23 From [before all time, eternal days] everlasting I was established [set up, anointed, appointed], from the beginning [the first, the birth of time], before the earth [the land, the world] began [existed, was]. word study 24 When there were no [deep, oceanic] watery depths [abyss, tehom], I was brought forth [born, conceived], when no [natural, overflowing] springs [fountains] were overflowing [abounding, heavy] with water [the source of life, refreshment]. word study 25 Before [in the time preceding, prior to] the mountains [hills, elevated regions] were settled [established, sunk into place], before [prior to, in the time preceding] the hills [small hills], I was brought forth [born, begotten, given birth to], word study 26 before He made [created, brought into being] the land [earth, territory] or fields [outdoors, open places], or any of the dust [dry earth, clay] of the earth [world, terrestrial sphere]. word study 27 I was there [present, in existence] when He established [set up, appointed, to establish] the heavens [the visible universe, sky], when He inscribed [set, decreed, drew] a circle [vault, compass] on the face [surface, presence] of the deep [abyss, ocean, tehom], word study 28 when He established [made firm, strengthened] the clouds [vapor, thin mist] above [higher, in the sky], when the fountains [springs, sources] of the deep [abyss, ocean] gushed forth [became strong, flowed freely], word study 29 when He set [established, appointed] a boundary [limit, decree] for the sea [a large body of water], so that the waters [liquid, source of refreshment] would not [absence, negation] surpass [cross over, transition] His command [statute, law], when He marked out [decreed, enacted] the foundations [base, underlying structure] of the earth [land, material world]. word study 30 Then I was [a master workman] a skilled craftsman at His side [beside, near], and His delight [daily pleasure, joy] day by day [every day, continually], rejoicing [laughing, taking pleasure] always [at all times, continually] in His presence [before Him, face to face]. word study 31 I was rejoicing [playing, delighted] in His whole world [habitable earth, creation], delighting [taking pleasure, having joy] together [in companionship, with affection] in the sons [children, descendants] of men [human beings, people]. word study 32 Now [at this time, in this present moment] therefore, my sons [children, descendants], listen [hear and obey, give attention] to me, for blessed [happy, fortunate, having divine favor] are those who keep [obey, guard, protect] my ways [path, journey, manner of life]. word study 33 Listen [hear and obey, give attention] to instruction [discipline, correction, guidance] and be wise [have good judgment, act intelligently]; do not [refuse, neglect] ignore [reject, dismiss] it [this teaching, wisdom]. word study 34 Blessed [happy, fortunate] is the man who listens [hears and obeys] to me, watching [being vigilant, alert] daily at my doors [gates, entrance], waiting [keeping watch, patiently waiting] at the posts [doorposts, pillars] of my doorway [entrance, gate]. word study 35 For whoever [those who seek diligently] finds [discovers, attains] me [wisdom, divine insight] finds [obtains, receives] life [eternal, spiritual] and obtains [secures, is granted] the favor [acceptance, delight] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God]. word study 36 But he who fails [sins against, misses the mark] to find me [to know, understand, or discover] harms [injures, wrongs] himself; all [every single one] who hate [feel intense dislike, reject] me love [have affection for, are devoted to] death [the end of life, spiritual separation].” word study