New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
1Does not wisdom cry out, And understanding lift up her voice? | 1Does not wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice? |
2She takes her stand on the top of the high hill, Beside the way, where the paths meet. | 2On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads she takes her stand. |
3She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city, At the entrance of the doors: | 3Beside the gates to the city, at the entrances she cries out: |
4“To you, O men, I call, And my voice is to the sons of men. | 4“To you, O men, I call out, and my cry is to the sons of men. |
5O you simple ones, understand prudence, And you fools, be of an understanding heart. | 5O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding. |
6Listen, for I will speak of excellent things, And from the opening of my lips will come right things; | 6Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right. |
7For my mouth will speak truth; Wickedness is an abomination to my lips. | 7For my mouth will speak the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips. |
8All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; Nothing crooked or perverse is in them. | 8All the words of my mouth are righteous; none are crooked or perverse. |
9They are all plain to him who understands, And right to those who find knowledge. | 9They are all plain to the discerning, and upright to those who find knowledge. |
10Receive my instruction, and not silver, And knowledge rather than choice gold; | 10Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold. |
11For wisdom is better than rubies, And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her. | 11For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her. |
12“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And find out knowledge and discretion. | 12I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. |
13The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate. | 13To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech. |
14Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength. | 14Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength. |
15By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice. | 15By me kings reign, and rulers enact just laws; |
16By me princes rule, and nobles, All the judges of the earth. | 16By me princes rule, and all nobles who govern justly. |
17I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me. | 17I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me. |
18Riches and honor are with me, Enduring riches and righteousness. | 18With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and righteousness. |
19My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, And my revenue than choice silver. | 19My fruit is better than gold, pure gold, and my harvest surpasses choice silver. |
20I traverse the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice, | 20I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, |
21That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, That I may fill their treasuries. | 21bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full. |
22“The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old. | 22The LORD created me as His first course, before His works of old. |
23I have been established from everlasting, From the beginning, before there was ever an earth. | 23From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began. |
24When there were no depths I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water. | 24When there were no watery depths, I was brought forth, when no springs were overflowing with water. |
25Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills, I was brought forth; | 25Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth, |
26While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields, Or the primal dust of the world. | 26before He made the land or fields, or any of the dust of the earth. |
27When He prepared the heavens, I was there, When He drew a circle on the face of the deep, | 27I was there when He established the heavens, when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep, |
28When He established the clouds above, When He strengthened the fountains of the deep, | 28when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth, |
29When He assigned to the sea its limit, So that the waters would not transgress His command, When He marked out the foundations of the earth, | 29when He set a boundary for the sea, so that the waters would not surpass His command, when He marked out the foundations of the earth. |
30Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him, | 30Then I was a skilled craftsman at His side, and His delight day by day, rejoicing always in His presence. |
31Rejoicing in His inhabited world, And my delight was with the sons of men. | 31I was rejoicing in His whole world, delighting together in the sons of men. |
32“Now therefore, listen to me, my children, For blessed are those who keep my ways. | 32Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways. |
33Hear instruction and be wise, And do not disdain it. | 33Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it. |
34Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors. | 34Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway. |
35For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the LORD; | 35For whoever finds me finds life and obtains the favor of the LORD. |
36But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; All those who hate me love death.” | 36But he who fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.” |
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