Proverbs 8

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Is not Wisdom cal ing? Is not Understanding raising her voice?	1 Does not Wisdom call, and Understanding raise her voice?
2 On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossways, she takes her stand;	2 On the top of the heights along the road, at the crossroads she takes her stand;
3 by the gates, at the entrance to the city, on the access-roads, she cries out,	3 By the gates at the approaches of the city, in the entryways she cries aloud:
4 'I am cal ing to you, al people, my words are addressed to al humanity.	4 "To you, O men, I call; my appeal is to the children of men.
5 Simpletons, learn how to behave, fools, come to your senses.	5 You simple ones, gain resource, you fools, gain sense.
6 Listen, I have something important to tel you, when I speak, my words are right.	6 "Give heed! for noble things I speak; honesty opens my lips.
7 My mouth proclaims the truth, for evil is abhorrent to my lips.	7 Yes, the truth my mouth recounts, but the wickedness my lips abhor.
8 Al the words from my mouth are upright, nothing false there, nothing crooked,	8 Sincere are all the words of my mouth, no one of them is wily or crooked;
9 everything plain, if you can understand, straight, if you have acquired knowledge.	9 All of them are plain to the man of intelligence, and right to those who attain knowledge.
10 Accept my discipline rather than silver, and knowledge of me in preference to finest gold.	10 Receive my instruction in preference to silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 For Wisdom is more precious than jewels, and nothing else is so worthy of desire.	11 (For Wisdom is better than corals, and no choice possessions can compare with her.)
12 'I, Wisdom, share house with Discretion, I am mistress of the art of thought.	12 "I, Wisdom, dwell with experience, and judicious knowledge I attain.
13 (Fear of Yahweh means hatred of evil.) I hate pride and arrogance, wicked behaviour and a lyingmouth.	13 (The fear of the LORD is to hate evil;) Pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth I hate.
14 To me belong good advice and prudence, I am perception: power is mine!	14 Mine are counsel and advice; Mine is strength; I am understanding.
15 By me monarchs rule and princes decree what is right;	15 By me kings reign, and lawgivers establish justice;
16 by me rulers govern, so do nobles, the lawful authorities.	16 By me princes govern, and nobles; all the rulers of earth.
17 I love those who love me; whoever searches eagerly for me finds me.	17 "Those who love me I also love, and those who seek me find me.
18 With me are riches and honour, lasting wealth and saving justice.	18 With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.
19 The fruit I give is better than gold, even the finest, the return I make is better than pure silver.	19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than pure gold, and my revenue than choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of uprightness in the path of justice,	20 On the way of duty I walk, along the paths of justice,
21 to endow my friends with my wealth and to fil their treasuries.	21 Granting wealth to those who love me, and filling their treasuries.
22 'Yahweh created me, first-fruits of his fashioning, before the oldest of his works.	22 "The LORD begot me, the first-born of his ways, the forerunner of his prodigies of long ago;
23 From everlasting, I was firmly set, from the beginning, before the earth came into being.	23 From of old I was poured forth, at the first, before the earth.
24 The deep was not, when I was born, nor were the springs with their abounding waters.	24 When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no fountains or springs of water;
25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hil s, I came to birth;	25 Before the mountains were settled into place, before the hills, I was brought forth;
26 before he had made the earth, the countryside, and the first elements of the world.	26 While as yet the earth and the fields were not made, nor the first clods of the world.
27 When he fixed the heavens firm, I was there, when he drew a circle on the surface of the deep,	27 "When he established the heavens I was there, when he marked out the vault over the face of the deep;
28 when he thickened the clouds above, when the sources of the deep began to swel ,	28 When he made firm the skies above, when he fixed fast the foundations of the earth;
29 when he assigned the sea its boundaries -- and the waters will not encroach on the shore -- when hetraced the foundations of the earth,	29 When he set for the sea its limit, so that the waters should not transgress his command;
30 I was beside the master craftsman, delighting him day after day, ever at play in his presence,	30 Then was I beside him as his craftsman, and I was his delight day by day, Playing before him all the while,
31 at play everywhere on his earth, delighting to be with the children of men.	31 playing on the surface of his earth; and I found delight in the sons of men.
32 'And now, my children, listen to me. Happy are those who keep my ways.	32 "So now, O children, listen to me;
33 Listen to instruction and become wise, do not reject it.	33 instruction and wisdom do not reject! Happy the man who obeys me, and happy those who keep my ways,
34 Blessed, whoever listens to me, who day after day keeps watch at my gates to guard my portals.	34 Happy the man watching daily at my gates, waiting at my doorposts;
35 For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains the favour of Yahweh;	35 For he who finds me finds life, and wins favor from the LORD;
36 but whoever misses me harms himself, al who hate me are in love with death.'	36 But he who misses me harms himself; all who hate me love death."