Proverbs 8:9
New International Version
To the discerning all of them are right; they are upright to those who have found knowledge.

New Living Translation
My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those with knowledge.

English Standard Version
They are all straight to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge.

Berean Standard Bible
They are all plain to the discerning, and upright to those who find knowledge.

King James Bible
They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

New King James Version
They are all plain to him who understands, And right to those who find knowledge.

New American Standard Bible
“They are all straightforward to him who understands, And right to those who find knowledge.

NASB 1995
“They are all straightforward to him who understands, And right to those who find knowledge.

NASB 1977
“They are all straightforward to him who understands, And right to those who find knowledge.

Legacy Standard Bible
They are all straightforward to him who understands, And right to those who find knowledge.

Amplified Bible
“They are all straightforward to him who understands [with an open and willing mind], And right to those who find knowledge and live by it.

Christian Standard Bible
All of them are clear to the perceptive, and right to those who discover knowledge.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
All of them are clear to the perceptive, and right to those who discover knowledge.

American Standard Version
They are all plain to him that understandeth, And right to them that find knowledge.

Contemporary English Version
"If you have understanding, you will see that my words are just what you need.

English Revised Version
They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
All of it is clear to a person who has understanding and right to those who have acquired knowledge.

Good News Translation
To those with insight, it is all clear; to the well-informed, it is all plain.

International Standard Version
Everything I say is sensible to someone who understands, and correct to those who have acquired knowledge.

Majority Standard Bible
They are all plain to the discerning, and upright to those who find knowledge.

NET Bible
All of them are clear to the discerning and upright to those who find knowledge.

New Heart English Bible
They are all plain to him who understands, right to those who find knowledge.

Webster's Bible Translation
They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

World English Bible
They are all plain to him who understands, right to those who find knowledge.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
All of them [are] plain to the intelligent, "" And upright to those finding knowledge.

Young's Literal Translation
All of them are plain to the intelligent, And upright to those finding knowledge.

Smith's Literal Translation
All of them straight to him understanding, and right to those finding knowledge.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
They are right to them that understand, and just to them that find knowledge.

Catholic Public Domain Version
They are upright to those who understand, and equitable to those who discover knowledge.

New American Bible
All of them are straightforward to the intelligent, and right to those who attain knowledge.

New Revised Standard Version
They are all straight to one who understands and right to those who find knowledge.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
They are all plain to him who understands them, and right to those who are willing to find knowledge.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
All these are plain to him who perceives them and they are right to him who chooses to know them.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
They are all plain to him that understandeth, And right to them that find knowledge.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
They are all evident to those that understand, and right to those that find knowledge.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Excellence of Wisdom
8All the words of my mouth are righteous; none are crooked or perverse. 9They are all plain to the discerning, and upright to those who find knowledge. 10Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.…

Cross References
James 3:17
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.

Psalm 19:7
The Law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making wise the simple.

Psalm 119:130
The unfolding of Your words gives light; it informs the simple.

1 Corinthians 2:14-15
The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. / The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone’s judgment.

Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

2 Timothy 3:15-17
From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. / All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, / so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.

Psalm 119:98-100
Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for they are always with me. / I have more insight than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation. / I discern more than the elders, for I obey Your precepts.

Colossians 1:9-10
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, / so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

Psalm 119:18
Open my eyes that I may see wondrous things from Your law.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Psalm 119:144
Your testimonies are righteous forever. Give me understanding, that I may live.

Ephesians 1:17-18
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him. / I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints,

Psalm 119:169
May my cry come before You, O LORD; give me understanding according to Your word.

Romans 15:4
For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.

Psalm 119:34
Give me understanding that I may obey Your law, and follow it with all my heart.


Treasury of Scripture

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

Proverbs 14:6
A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.

Proverbs 15:14,24
The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness…

Proverbs 17:24
Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

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Awake Discerning Faultless Find Finding Intelligent Mind Plain Right Straight Straightforward True. Understandeth Understands Upright
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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














They are all plain
The phrase "They are all plain" suggests clarity and transparency. In the Hebrew text, the word for "plain" is "נְכֹחִים" (nekhokhim), which conveys the idea of straightforwardness and simplicity. This indicates that the wisdom being spoken of in Proverbs is not hidden or obscure but is accessible and understandable to those who seek it. Historically, wisdom literature in the ancient Near East often emphasized the accessibility of wisdom to those who earnestly pursue it. The clarity of God's wisdom is a recurring theme in Scripture, underscoring that divine truths are not meant to be enigmatic but are revealed plainly to those with open hearts.

to the discerning
The term "discerning" comes from the Hebrew word "מֵבִין" (mevin), which refers to someone who has insight or understanding. In the biblical context, discernment is a spiritual gift that allows individuals to perceive and comprehend the deeper truths of God. This phrase implies that while wisdom is plain, it requires a discerning heart to truly grasp its depth. The discerning are those who have cultivated a sensitivity to God's voice and are able to see beyond the surface. This aligns with the broader biblical teaching that spiritual insight is granted to those who earnestly seek God and His wisdom.

and upright
The word "upright" is translated from the Hebrew "יְשָׁרִים" (yesharim), which means straight or right. In the context of Proverbs, being upright is synonymous with living a life of integrity and righteousness. The upright are those who align their lives with God's standards and principles. This phrase suggests that wisdom is not only clear to the discerning but also aligns with the moral and ethical standards of those who live righteously. The upright are able to recognize and appreciate the value of wisdom because their lives are oriented towards God's truth.

to those who find knowledge
The phrase "to those who find knowledge" emphasizes the active pursuit of understanding. The Hebrew word for "find" is "מֹצְאֵי" (motzei), which implies seeking and discovering. Knowledge in the biblical sense is not merely intellectual but is deeply connected to the fear of the Lord and the application of His truths in daily life. This phrase highlights the idea that wisdom is not passively received but is discovered through diligent search and a desire to know God more fully. The pursuit of knowledge is a lifelong journey that requires dedication and a heart open to learning from the divine source of all wisdom.

(9) They are all plain . . .--Because "the secret of the Lord is (only) with them that fear Him "(Psalm 25:14), and God reveals such things unto them by His Spirit (1Corinthians 2:10), while the "natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him" (ibid., Proverbs 8:14).

Verse 9. - They are all plain to him that understandeth. The man who listens to and imbibes the teaching of Wisdom finds these words intelligible, and "to the point." Opening his heart to receive Divine instruction, he is rewarded by having his understanding enlightened; for while "the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God" (1 Corinthians 2:14), yet "the secret of the Lord is with them that fear him" (Psalm 25:14), and "mysteries are revealed unto the meek" (Ecclus. 3:19, Complutensian אָ). Right to them that find knowledge (ver. 10). They form an even path without stumbling blocks for those who have learned to discern right from wrong, and are seeking to direct their lives in accordance with high motives. Septuagint, "They are all present (ἐνώπια) to those that understand, and right (ὀρθὰ) to those that find knowledge."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
They [are]
כֻּלָּ֣ם (kul·lām)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

all plain
נְ֭כֹחִים (nə·ḵō·ḥîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 5228: Straightforward, equitable, correct, integrity

to the discerning,
לַמֵּבִ֑ין (lam·mê·ḇîn)
Preposition-l, Article | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 995: To separate mentally, understand

and upright
וִֽ֝ישָׁרִ֗ים (wî·šā·rîm)
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 3477: Straight, right

to those who find
לְמֹ֣צְאֵי (lə·mō·ṣə·’ê)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present

knowledge.
דָֽעַת׃ (ḏā·‘aṯ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1847: Knowledge


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 8:9 They are all plain to him who (Prov. Pro Pr)
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