Darby Bible Translation

English Standard Version

The Excellence of Wisdom

Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding give forth her voice?

1

The Blessings of Wisdom

Does not wisdom call?
Does not understanding raise her voice?

2

On the top of high places by the way, at the cross-paths she taketh her stand.

2

On the heights beside the way,
at the crossroads she takes her stand;

3

Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud.

3

beside the gates in front of the town,
at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:

4

Unto you, men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of man:

4

“To you, O men, I call,
and my cry is to the children of man.

5

O ye simple, understand prudence; and ye foolish, understand sense.

5

O simple ones, learn prudence;
O fools, learn sense.

6

Hear, for I will speak excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

6

Hear, for I will speak noble things,
and from my lips will come what is right,

7

For my palate shall meditate truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

7

for my mouth will utter truth;
wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

8

All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing tortuous or perverse in them.

8

All the words of my mouth are righteous;
there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.

9

They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

9

They are all straight to him who understands,
and right to those who find knowledge.

10

Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold:

10

Take my instruction instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than choice gold,

11

for wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things that may be desired are not equal to it.

11

for wisdom is better than jewels,
and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

12

I wisdom dwell [with] prudence, and find the knowledge [which cometh] of reflection.

12

“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
and I find knowledge and discretion.

13

The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil; pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth do I hate.

13

The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.
Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
and perverted speech I hate.

14

Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am intelligence; I have strength.

14

I have counsel and sound wisdom;
I have insight; I have strength.

15

By me kings reign, and rulers make just decrees;

15

By me kings reign,
and rulers decree what is just;

16

by me princes rule, and nobles, all the judges of the earth.

16

by me princes rule,
and nobles, all who govern justly.a

17

I love those that love me; and they that seek me early shall find me.

17

I love those who love me,
and those who seek me diligently find me.

18

Riches and honour are with me; durable wealth and righteousness.

18

Riches and honor are with me,
enduring wealth and righteousness.

19

My fruit is better than fine gold, yea, than pure gold; and my revenue than choice silver.

19

My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold,
and my yield than choice silver.

20

I walk in the path of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:

20

I walk in the way of righteousness,
in the paths of justice,

21

that I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasuries.

21

granting an inheritance to those who love me,
and filling their treasuries.

22

Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

22

“The Lord possessedb me at the beginning of his work,c
the first of his acts of old.

23

I was set up from eternity, from the beginning, before the earth was.

23

Ages ago I was set up,
at the first, before the beginning of the earth.

24

When there were no depths, I was brought forth, when there were no fountains abounding with water.

24

When there were no depths I was brought forth,
when there were no springs abounding with water.

25

Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth;

25

Before the mountains had been shaped,
before the hills, I was brought forth,

26

while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.

26

before he had made the earth with its fields,
or the first of the dust of the world.

27

When he prepared the heavens I was there; when he ordained the circle upon the face of the deep;

27

When he established the heavens, I was there;
when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,

28

when he established the skies above, when the fountains of the deep became strong;

28

when he made firm the skies above,
when he establishedd the fountains of the deep,

29

when he imposed on the sea his decree that the waters should not pass his commandment, when he appointed 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,

30

then I was by him [his] nursling, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;

30

then I was beside him, like a master workman,
and I was daily hise delight,
rejoicing before him always,

31

rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth, and my delights [were] with the sons of men.

31

rejoicing in his inhabited world
and delighting in the children of man.

32

And now, sons, hearken unto me, and blessed are they that keep my ways:

32

“And now, O sons, listen to me:
blessed are those who keep my ways.

33

hear instruction and be wise, and refuse it not.

33

Hear instruction and be wise,
and do not neglect it.

34

Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

34

Blessed is the one who listens to me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting beside my doors.

35

For whoso findeth me findeth life, and obtaineth favour of Jehovah;

35

For whoever finds me finds life
and obtains favor from the Lord,

36

but he that sinneth against me doeth violence to his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

36

but he who fails to find me injures himself;
all who hate me love death.”

Parallel

Darby Bible Translation

English Standard Version

Proverbs 8

Proverbs 8