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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Proverbs 8 ESV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/proverbs/8.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" 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href="../proverbs/7.htm" title="Proverbs 7">◄</a> Proverbs 8 <a href="../proverbs/9.htm" title="Proverbs 9">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">English Standard Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/esv/nas/proverbs/8.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div></a><div class="chap"><p class="heading">The Blessings of Wisdom</p><span class="block-indent"><p class="line-group"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/8-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">Does not wisdom call?</span><br /><span class="indent">Does not understanding raise her voice?</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/8-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">On the heights beside the way,</span><br /><span class="indent">at the crossroads she takes her stand;</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/8-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">beside the gates in front of the town,</span><br /><span class="indent">at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/8-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">“To you, O men, I call,</span><br /><span class="indent">and my cry is to the children of man.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/8-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">O simple ones, learn prudence;</span><br /><span class="indent">O fools, learn sense.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/8-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">Hear, for I will speak noble things,</span><br /><span class="indent">and from my lips will come what is right,</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/8-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">for my mouth will utter truth;</span><br /><span class="indent">wickedness is an abomination to my lips.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/8-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">All the words of my mouth are righteous;</span><br /><span class="indent">there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/8-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">They are all straight to him who understands,</span><br /><span class="indent">and right to those who find knowledge.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/8-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">Take my instruction instead of silver,</span><br /><span class="indent">and knowledge rather than choice gold,</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/8-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">for wisdom is better than jewels,</span><br /><span class="indent">and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.</span></p> <p class="line-group"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/8-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,</span><br /><span class="indent">and I find knowledge and discretion.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/8-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">The fear of the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> is hatred of evil.</span><br /><span class="ln-group">Pride and arrogance and the way of evil</span><br /><span class="indent">and perverted speech I hate.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/8-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">I have counsel and sound wisdom;</span><br /><span class="indent">I have insight; I have strength.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/8-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">By me kings reign,</span><br /><span class="indent">and rulers decree what is just;</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/8-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">by me princes rule,</span><br /><span class="indent">and nobles, all who govern justly.<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Most Hebrew manuscripts; many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint govern the earth">a</a></sup></span></span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/8-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">I love those who love me,</span><br /><span class="indent">and those who seek me diligently find me.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/8-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">Riches and honor are with me,</span><br /><span class="indent">enduring wealth and righteousness.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/8-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold,</span><br /><span class="indent">and my yield than choice silver.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/8-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">I walk in the way of righteousness,</span><br /><span class="indent">in the paths of justice,</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/8-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">granting an inheritance to those who love me,</span><br /><span class="indent">and filling their treasuries.</span></p> <p class="line-group"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/8-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">“The <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> possessed<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Or fathered; Septuagint created">b</a></sup></span> me at the beginning of his work,<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Hebrew way">c</a></sup></span></span><br /><span class="indent">the first of his acts of old.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/8-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">Ages ago I was set up,</span><br /><span class="indent">at the first, before the beginning of the earth.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/8-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">When there were no depths I was brought forth,</span><br /><span class="indent">when there were no springs abounding with water.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/8-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">Before the mountains had been shaped,</span><br /><span class="indent">before the hills, I was brought forth,</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/8-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">before he had made the earth with its fields,</span><br /><span class="indent">or the first of the dust of the world.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/8-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">When he established the heavens, I was there;</span><br /><span class="indent">when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/8-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">when he made firm the skies above,</span><br /><span class="indent">when he established<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain">d</a></sup></span> the fountains of the deep,</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/8-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">when he assigned to the sea its limit,</span><br /><span class="indent">so that the waters might not transgress his command,</span><br /><span class="ln-group">when he marked out the foundations of the earth,</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/8-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span><span class="indent">then I was beside him, like a master workman,</span><br /><span class="ln-group">and I was daily his<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Or daily filled with">e</a></sup></span> delight,</span><br /><span class="indent">rejoicing before him always,</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/8-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">rejoicing in his inhabited world</span><br /><span class="indent">and delighting in the children of man.</span></p> <p class="line-group"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/8-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">“And now, O sons, listen to me:</span><br /><span class="indent">blessed are those who keep my ways.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/8-33.htm"><b>33</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">Hear instruction and be wise,</span><br /><span class="indent">and do not neglect it.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/8-34.htm"><b>34</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">Blessed is the one who listens to me,</span><br /><span class="indent">watching daily at my gates,</span><br /><span class="indent">waiting beside my doors.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/8-35.htm"><b>35</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">For whoever finds me finds life</span><br /><span class="indent">and obtains favor from the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span>,</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/8-36.htm"><b>36</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">but he who fails to find me injures himself;</span><br /><span class="indent">all who hate me love death.”</span></p><A name="footnotes"></a><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="footnotesbot">a</span> <span class="fnverse">16</span> Most Hebrew manuscripts; many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint <i><span class="catch-word">govern</span> the earth</i><br /><span class="footnotesbot">b</span> <span class="fnverse">22</span> Or <i>fathered</i>; Septuagint <i>created</i><br /><span class="footnotesbot">c</span> <span class="fnverse">22</span> Hebrew <i>way</i><br /><span class="footnotesbot">d</span> <span class="fnverse">28</span> The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain<br /><span class="footnotesbot">e</span> <span class="fnverse">30</span> Or <i><span class="catch-word">daily</span> filled with</i><br /></span></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">ESV Text Edition® (2016).<br /><br />The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by <a 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