Proverbs 8

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Does not wisdom call, does not understanding raise her voice?	1 Does not Wisdom call, and Understanding raise her voice?
2 On the heights beside the way, in the paths she takes her stand;	2 On the top of the heights along the road, at the crossroads she takes her stand;
3 beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:	3 By the gates at the approaches of the city, in the entryways she cries aloud:
4 "To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the sons of men.	4 "To you, O men, I call; my appeal is to the children of men.
5 O simple ones, learn prudence; O foolish men, pay attention.	5 You simple ones, gain resource, you fools, gain sense.
6 Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right;	6 "Give heed! for noble things I speak; honesty opens my lips.
7 for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips.	7 Yes, the truth my mouth recounts, but the wickedness my lips abhor.
8 All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.	8 Sincere are all the words of my mouth, no one of them is wily or crooked;
9 They are all straight to him who understands and right to those who find knowledge.	9 All of them are plain to the man of intelligence, and right to those who attain knowledge.
10 Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold;	10 Receive my instruction in preference to silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.	11 (For Wisdom is better than corals, and no choice possessions can compare with her.)
12 I, wisdom, dwell in prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.	12 "I, Wisdom, dwell with experience, and judicious knowledge I attain.
13 The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.	13 (The fear of the LORD is to hate evil;) Pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth I hate.
14 I have counsel and sound wisdom, I have insight, I have strength.	14 Mine are counsel and advice; Mine is strength; I am understanding.
15 By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just;	15 By me kings reign, and lawgivers establish justice;
16 by me princes rule, and nobles govern the earth.	16 By me princes govern, and nobles; all the rulers of earth.
17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.	17 "Those who love me I also love, and those who seek me find me.
18 Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and prosperity.	18 With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.
19 My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice 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 righteousness, in the paths of justice,	20 On the way of duty I walk, along the paths of justice,
21 endowing with wealth those who love me, and filling their treasuries.	21 Granting wealth to those who love me, and filling their treasuries.
22 The LORD created me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old.	22 "The LORD begot me, the first-born of his ways, the forerunner of his prodigies of long ago;
23 Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.	23 From of old I was poured forth, at the first, before the earth.
24 When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water.	24 When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no fountains or springs of water;
25 Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth;	25 Before the mountains were settled into place, before the hills, I was brought forth;
26 before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust 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 established the heavens, I was there, when he drew a circle on the face 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 made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep,	28 When he made firm the skies above, when he fixed fast the foundations of the earth;
29 when 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,	29 When he set for the sea its limit, so that the waters should not transgress his command;
30 then I was beside him, like a master workman; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always,	30 Then was I beside him as his craftsman, and I was his delight day by day, Playing before him all the while,
31 rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the sons of men.	31 playing on the surface of his earth; and I found delight in the sons of men.
32 And now, my sons, listen to me: happy are those who keep my ways.	32 "So now, O children, listen to me;
33 Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.	33 instruction and wisdom do not reject! Happy the man who obeys me, and happy those who keep my ways,
34 Happy is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.	34 Happy the man watching daily at my gates, waiting at my doorposts;
35 For he who finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD;	35 For he who finds me finds life, and wins favor from the LORD;
36 but he who misses me injures himself; all who hate me love death."	36 But he who misses me harms himself; all who hate me love death."