| English Standard Version | International Standard Version |
| 1Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice? | 1Isn't wisdom calling out; isn't understanding raising her voice? |
| 2On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; | 2On top of the highest places along the road she stands where the roads meet. |
| 3beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud: | 3Beside the gates, at the city entrance— at the entrance to the portals she cries aloud: |
| 4“To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man. | 4"I'm calling to you, men! What I have to say pertains to all mankind! |
| 5O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense. | 5Understand prudence, you naïve people; and gain an understanding heart, you foolish ones. |
| 6Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right, | 6Listen, because I have noble things to say, and what I have to say will reveal what is right. |
| 7for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips. | 7For my mouth speaks the truth— wickedness is detestable to me. |
| 8All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them. | 8Everything I have to say is just; there isn't anything corrupt or perverse in my speech. |
| 9They are all straight to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge. | 9Everything I say is sensible to someone who understands, and correct to those who have acquired knowledge. |
| 10Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, | 10Grab hold of my instruction in lieu of money and knowledge instead of the finest gold, |
| 11for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her. | 11because wisdom is better than precious gems and nothing you desire can compare to it." |
| 12“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. | 12"I, wisdom, am related to prudence. I know how to be discreet. |
| 13The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. | 13The fear of the LORD is to hate evil. Pride, arrogance, an evil lifestyle, and perverted speech I despise. |
| 14I have counsel and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have strength. | 14Counsel belongs to me, along with sound judgment. I am understanding. Power belongs to me. |
| 15By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just; | 15Kings reign by me, and rulers dispense justice through me. |
| 16by me princes rule, and nobles, all who govern justly. | 16By me leaders rule, as do noble officials and all who govern justly. |
| 17I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me. | 17I love those who love me, and those who seek me will find me. |
| 18Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness. | 18Wealth and honor accompany me, as do enduring wealth and righteousness. |
| 19My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver. | 19My fruit is better than gold, better than even refined gold, and my benefit surpasses the purest silver. |
| 20I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice, | 20I walk on the way of righteousness, along paths that are just, |
| 21granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries. | 21I bequeath wealth to those who love me, and I will fill their treasuries." |
| 22“The LORD possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. | 22"The LORD made me as he began his planning, before his ancient activity commenced. |
| 23Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. | 23From eternity I was appointed, from the beginning, from before there was land. |
| 24When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. | 24When there were no ocean depths, I brought them to birth at a time when there were no springs. |
| 25Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth, | 25Before the mountains were shaped, before there were hills, I was bringing them to birth. |
| 26before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world. | 26Even though he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the world's first grains of dust, |
| 27When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, | 27when he crafted the heavens, I was there— when he marked out a circle on the face of the deep, |
| 28when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, | 28when he made the clouds from above, when the springs of the depths were established, |
| 29when 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, | 29when he set a boundary for the sea so the waters would not exceed his limits, when he marked out the foundations of the earth. |
| 30then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, | 30Then I was with him, his master craftsman— I was his delight daily, continuously rejoicing in his presence, |
| 31rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man. | 31rejoicing in his inhabitable world and taking delight in mankind." |
| 32“And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways. | 32"So listen to me, children! Blessed are those who obey me. |
| 33Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. | 33Listen to instruction and be wise. Don't ignore it. |
| 34Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. | 34Blessed is the person who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my doorways— |
| 35For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD, | 35because those who find me find life and gain favor from the LORD. |
| 36but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.” | 36But whoever sins against me destroys himself; everyone who hates me loves death." |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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