Proverbs 8 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 8
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NLT
New Living Translation
ESV
English Standard Version
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1 Listen as Wisdom calls out! Hear as understanding raises her voice! Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice? Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?
2 On the hilltop along the road, she takes her stand at the crossroads. On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; At the highest point along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
3 By the gates at the entrance to the town, on the road leading in, she cries aloud, beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud: beside the gate leading into the city, at the entrance, she cries aloud:
4 “I call to you, to all of you! I raise my voice to all people. “To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man. “To you, O people, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind.
5 You simple people, use good judgment. You foolish people, show some understanding. O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense. You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.
6 Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you. Everything I say is right, Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right, Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right.
7 for I speak the truth and detest every kind of deception. for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips. My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness.
8 My advice is wholesome. There is nothing devious or crooked in it. All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them. All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse.
9 My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those with knowledge. They are all straight to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge. To the discerning all of them are right; they are upright to those who have found knowledge.
10 Choose my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold. Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold,
11 For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it. for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her. for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.
12 “I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment. I know where to discover knowledge and discernment. “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion.
13 All who fear the LORD will hate evil. Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech. The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
14 Common sense and success belong to me. Insight and strength are mine. I have counsel and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have strength. Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight, I have power.
15 Because of me, kings reign, and rulers make just decrees. By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just; By me kings reign and rulers issue decrees that are just;
16 Rulers lead with my help, and nobles make righteous judgments. by me princes rule, and nobles, all who govern justly. by me princes govern, and nobles—all who rule on earth.
17 “I love all who love me. Those who search will surely find me. I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me. I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.
18 I have riches and honor, as well as enduring wealth and justice. Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness. With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.
19 My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold, my wages better than sterling silver! My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver. My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver.
20 I walk in righteousness, in paths of justice. I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice, I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
21 Those who love me inherit wealth. I will fill their treasuries. granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries. bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me and making their treasuries full.
22 “The LORD formed me from the beginning, before he created anything else. “The LORD possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. “The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old;
23 I was appointed in ages past, at the very first, before the earth began. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be.
24 I was born before the oceans were created, before the springs bubbled forth their waters. When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. When there were no watery depths, I was given birth, when there were no springs overflowing with water;
25 Before the mountains were formed, before the hills, I was born— Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth, before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth,
26 before he had made the earth and fields and the first handfuls of soil. before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world. before he made the world or its fields or any of the dust of the earth.
27 I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew the horizon on the oceans. When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,
28 I was there when he set the clouds above, when he established springs deep in the earth. when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,
29 I was there when he set the limits of the seas, so they would not spread beyond their boundaries. And when he marked off the earth’s foundations, when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.
30 I was the architect at his side. I was his constant delight, rejoicing always in his presence. then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, Then I was constantly at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence,
31 And how happy I was with the world he created; how I rejoiced with the human family! rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man. rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind.
32 “And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful. “And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways. “Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise. Don’t ignore it. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it.
34 Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home! Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.
35 For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD, For those who find me find life and receive favor from the LORD.
36 But those who miss me injure themselves. All who hate me love death.” but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.” But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death.”
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