New International Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
1Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? | 1Doesn't Wisdom call out? Doesn't Understanding make her voice heard? |
2At the highest point along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand; | 2At the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads, she takes her stand. |
3beside the gate leading into the city, at the entrance, she cries aloud: | 3Beside the gates at the entry to the city, at the main entrance, she cries out:" |
4"To you, O people, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind. | 4People, I call out to you; my cry is to mankind. |
5You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, set your hearts on it. | 5Learn to be shrewd, you who are inexperienced; develop common sense, you who are foolish. |
6Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right. | 6Listen, for I speak of noble things, and what my lips say is right. |
7My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness. | 7For my mouth tells the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips. |
8All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse. | 8All the words of my mouth are righteous; none of them are deceptive or perverse. |
9To the discerning all of them are right; they are upright to those who have found knowledge. | 9All of them are clear to the perceptive, and right to those who discover knowledge. |
10Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, | 10Accept my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold. |
11for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. | 11For wisdom is better than jewels, and nothing desirable can compare with it. |
12"I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion. | 12I, Wisdom, share a home with shrewdness and have knowledge and discretion. |
13To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. | 13To fear the LORD is to hate evil. I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech. |
14Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight, I have power. | 14I possess good advice and competence; I have understanding and strength. |
15By me kings reign and rulers issue decrees that are just; | 15It is by me that kings reign and rulers enact just law; |
16by me princes govern, and nobles--all who rule on earth. | 16by me, princes lead, as do nobles and all righteous judges. |
17I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. | 17I love those who love me, and those who search for me find me. |
18With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. | 18With me are riches and honor, lasting wealth and righteousness. |
19My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. | 19My fruit is better than solid gold, and my harvest than pure silver. |
20I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, | 20I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, |
21bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me and making their treasuries full. | 21giving wealth as an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries." |
22"The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; | 22The LORD made me at the beginning of His creation, before His works of long ago. |
23I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be. | 23I was formed before ancient times, from the beginning, before the earth began. |
24When there were no watery depths, I was given birth, when there were no springs overflowing with water; | 24I was born when there were no watery depths and no springs filled with water. |
25before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth, | 25I was delivered before the mountains and hills were established, |
26before he made the world or its fields or any of the dust of the earth. | 26before He made the land, the fields, or the first soil on earth. |
27I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, | 27I was there when He established the heavens, when He laid out the horizon on the surface of the ocean, |
28when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep, | 28when He placed the skies above, when the fountains of the ocean gushed out, |
29when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth. | 29when He set a limit for the sea so that the waters would not violate His command, when He laid out the foundations of the earth. |
30Then I was constantly at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence, | 30I was a skilled craftsman beside Him. I was His delight every day, always rejoicing before Him. |
31rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind. | 31I was rejoicing in His inhabited world, delighting in the human race." |
32"Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. | 32And now, my sons, listen to me; those who keep my ways are happy. |
33Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it. | 33Listen to instruction and be wise; don't ignore it. |
34Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. | 34Anyone who listens to me is happy, watching at my doors every day, waiting by the posts of my doorway. |
35For those who find me find life and receive favor from the LORD. | 35For the one who finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD, |
36But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death." | 36but the one who misses me harms himself; all who hate me love death." |
New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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