Proverbs 8:31
New International Version
rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind.

New Living Translation
And how happy I was with the world he created; how I rejoiced with the human family!

English Standard Version
rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man.

Berean Standard Bible
I was rejoicing in His whole world, delighting together in the sons of men.

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

New King James Version
Rejoicing in His inhabited world, And my delight was with the sons of men.

New American Standard Bible
Rejoicing in the world, His earth, And having my delight in the sons of mankind.

NASB 1995
Rejoicing in the world, His earth, And having my delight in the sons of men.

NASB 1977
Rejoicing in the world, His earth, And having my delight in the sons of men.

Legacy Standard Bible
Rejoicing in the world, His earth, My delight is in the sons of men.

Amplified Bible
Rejoicing in the world, His inhabited earth, And having my delight in the sons of men.

Christian Standard Bible
I was rejoicing in his inhabited world, delighting in the children of Adam.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I was rejoicing in His inhabited world, delighting in the human race.”

American Standard Version
Rejoicing in his habitable earth; And my delight was with the sons of men.

Contemporary English Version
I was pleased with his world and pleased with its people.

English Revised Version
Rejoicing in his habitable earth; and my delight was with the sons of men.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
found joy in his inhabited world, and delighted in the human race.

Good News Translation
happy with the world and pleased with the human race.

International Standard Version
rejoicing in his inhabitable world and taking delight in mankind."

Majority Standard Bible
I was rejoicing in His whole world, delighting together in the sons of men.

NET Bible
rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth, and delighting in its people.

New Heart English Bible
Rejoicing in his whole world. My delight was with the sons of men.

Webster's Bible Translation
Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.

World English Bible
rejoicing in his whole world. My delight was with the sons of men.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth, "" And my delights [are] with the sons of men.

Young's Literal Translation
Rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth, And my delights are with the sons of men.

Smith's Literal Translation
Smiling in the habitable globe of his earth; and my delight with the sons of man.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Playing in the world: and my delights were to be with the children of men.

Catholic Public Domain Version
playing in globe of the earth. And my delight was to be with the sons of men.

New American Bible
Playing over the whole of his earth, having my delight with human beings.

New Revised Standard Version
rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the human race.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Rejoicing in his habitable earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
I have been rejoicing in the world of his Earth and I have been glorying in the sons of man.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Playing in His habitable earth, And my delights are with the sons of men.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For he rejoiced when he had completed the world, and rejoiced among the children of men.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Excellence of Wisdom
30Then I was a skilled craftsman at His side, and His delight day by day, rejoicing always in His presence. 31I was rejoicing in His whole world, delighting together in the sons of men. 32Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.…

Cross References
John 1:1-3
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. / He was with God in the beginning. / Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.

Colossians 1:16-17
For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. / He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

Genesis 1:26-28
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, and over all the earth itself and every creature that crawls upon it.” / So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. / God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth.”

Psalm 104:24-26
How many are Your works, O LORD! In wisdom You have made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures. / Here is the sea, vast and wide, teeming with creatures beyond number, living things both great and small. / There the ships pass, and Leviathan, which You formed to frolic there.

Job 38:4-7
Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. / Who fixed its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched a measuring line across it? / On what were its foundations set, or who laid its cornerstone, ...

Hebrews 1:2-3
But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe. / The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

Romans 11:36
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.

Ephesians 3:9
and to illuminate for everyone the stewardship of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.

Psalm 33:6-9
By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all the stars by the breath of His mouth. / He piles up the waters of the sea; He puts the depths into storehouses. / Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere Him. ...

Isaiah 45:18
For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens—He is God; He formed the earth and fashioned it; He established it; He did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited: “I am the LORD, and there is no other.

Revelation 4:11
“Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things; by Your will they exist and were created.”

Nehemiah 9:6
You alone are the LORD. You created the heavens, the highest heavens with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to all things, and the host of heaven worships You.

1 Corinthians 8:6
yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist.

Psalm 136:5-9
By His insight He made the heavens. His loving devotion endures forever. / He spread out the earth upon the waters. His loving devotion endures forever. / He made the great lights—His loving devotion endures forever. ...

Isaiah 40:12-14
Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or marked off the heavens with the span of his hand? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on a scale and the hills with a balance? / Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or informed Him as His counselor? / Whom did He consult to enlighten Him, and who taught Him the paths of justice? Who imparted knowledge to Him and showed Him the way of understanding?


Treasury of Scripture

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

and my

Psalm 16:3
But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.

Psalm 40:6-8
Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required…

John 4:34
Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

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Proverbs 8
1. the fame
6. and evidence of wisdom
10. The excellence
12. the nature
15. the power
18. the riches
22. and the eternity of wisdom
32. Wisdom is to be desired for the blessedness it brings














I was rejoicing
The Hebrew root for "rejoicing" is שָׂחַק (sachaq), which conveys a sense of joy, laughter, and playfulness. This word suggests an exuberant, overflowing joy that is not just a passive feeling but an active expression. In the context of Proverbs 8, Wisdom is personified and is expressing a deep, intrinsic joy in the creation of the world. This joy is not just a fleeting emotion but a fundamental aspect of Wisdom's nature, reflecting the delight God takes in His creation. It serves as a reminder that joy is a divine attribute and that believers are called to find joy in God's works.

in His whole world
The phrase "His whole world" emphasizes the entirety of creation. The Hebrew word for "world" here is תֵּבֵל (tebel), which refers to the inhabited world or the earth in its fullness. This highlights the comprehensive scope of God's creation, from the vastness of the cosmos to the intricacies of life on earth. The use of "His" underscores God's sovereignty and ownership over all creation. It is a call to recognize the divine order and purpose imbued in every aspect of the world, encouraging believers to see the world as a reflection of God's wisdom and glory.

delighting together
The Hebrew root for "delighting" is שָׁעַשׁ (sha'ashu'a), which implies a deep, abiding pleasure and enjoyment. This word suggests a communal aspect of joy, as Wisdom delights "together" with God in creation. It indicates a harmonious relationship and shared joy between the Creator and His creation. This communal delight is a model for human relationships, encouraging believers to find joy in fellowship with God and with one another. It also reflects the relational nature of God, who invites humanity to participate in His joy.

in the sons of men
The phrase "sons of men" refers to humanity. The Hebrew term בְּנֵי אָדָם (bene adam) literally means "children of Adam," emphasizing the shared lineage and inherent dignity of all people. This phrase highlights God's special interest and delight in humanity, the pinnacle of His creation. It underscores the value and worth of every individual, created in the image of God. In the context of Proverbs 8, it serves as a reminder of the intimate relationship God desires with humanity and the joy He finds in human beings. This is an invitation for believers to recognize their unique place in creation and to live in a way that reflects God's wisdom and delight.

(31) Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth.--Rather, the fertile part. (Comp. Genesis 1:31, where the satisfaction of God with His creation is described; and Psalm 104:31.)

My delights were with the sons of men.--Or rather, in them. (Comp. Genesis 3:8, where it would seem that the "Lord God" had been in the habit of assuming human form, and admitting man to His presence.) Such appearances as this, and that to Abraham in Genesis 18, and to Joshua in Joshua 5, were supposed by the Fathers to have been anticipations of the Incarnation of God the Son, who is here described under the name of Wisdom.

Verse 31. - Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth. Wisdom declares wherein she chiefly delighted, viz. in the world as the habitation of rational creatures. "And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good" (Genesis 1:31); comp. Psalm 104:31, and see the eloquent account of Wisdom in the book so named (7:22-8:1). My delights were with the sons of men. Man, made in the image of God. is the principal object of creative Wisdom's pleasure; and her joy is fulfilled only in the Incarnation. When the Word became flesh, then was the end and design of creation exhibited, and the infinite love of God towards man made, as it were, visible and palpable. Septuagint, "Because he rejoiced when he completed the world (τὴν οἰκουμένην), and rejoiced in the children of men."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
I was rejoicing
מְ֭שַׂחֶקֶת (mə·śa·ḥe·qeṯ)
Verb - Piel - Participle - feminine singular
Strong's 7832: To laugh, to play

in His whole world,
בְּתֵבֵ֣ל (bə·ṯê·ḇêl)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8398: The earth, the globe, its inhabitants, a particular land

delighting
וְ֝שַׁעֲשֻׁעַ֗י (wə·ša·‘ă·šu·‘ay)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 8191: Enjoyment

together
אֶת־ (’eṯ-)
Preposition
Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among

in the sons
בְּנֵ֥י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of men.
אָדָֽם׃ (’ā·ḏām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 8:31 Rejoicing in his whole world (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 8:30
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