New International Version | New Living Translation |
1Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? | 1Listen as Wisdom calls out! Hear as understanding raises her voice! |
2At the highest point along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand; | 2On the hilltop along the road, she takes her stand at the crossroads. |
3beside the gate leading into the city, at the entrance, she cries aloud: | 3By the gates at the entrance to the town, on the road leading in, she cries aloud, |
4"To you, O people, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind. | 4“I call to you, to all of you! I raise my voice to all people. |
5You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, set your hearts on it. | 5You simple people, use good judgment. You foolish people, show some understanding. |
6Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right. | 6Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you. Everything I say is right, |
7My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness. | 7for I speak the truth and detest every kind of deception. |
8All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse. | 8My advice is wholesome. There is nothing devious or crooked in it. |
9To the discerning all of them are right; they are upright to those who have found knowledge. | 9My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those with knowledge. |
10Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, | 10Choose my instruction rather than 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 far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it. |
12"I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion. | 12“I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment. I know where to discover knowledge and discernment. |
13To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. | 13All who fear the LORD will hate evil. Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech. |
14Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight, I have power. | 14Common sense and success belong to me. Insight and strength are mine. |
15By me kings reign and rulers issue decrees that are just; | 15Because of me, kings reign, and rulers make just decrees. |
16by me princes govern, and nobles--all who rule on earth. | 16Rulers lead with my help, and nobles make righteous judgments. |
17I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. | 17“I love all who love me. Those who search will surely find me. |
18With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. | 18I have riches and honor, as well as enduring wealth and justice. |
19My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. | 19My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold, my wages better than sterling silver! |
20I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, | 20I walk in righteousness, in paths of justice. |
21bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me and making their treasuries full. | 21Those who love me inherit wealth. I will fill their treasuries. |
22"The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; | 22“The LORD formed me from the beginning, before he created anything else. |
23I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be. | 23I was appointed in ages past, at the very first, 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 before the oceans were created, before the springs bubbled forth their waters. |
25before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth, | 25Before the mountains were formed, before the hills, I was born— |
26before he made the world or its fields or any of the dust of the earth. | 26before he had made the earth and fields and the first handfuls of soil. |
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 drew the horizon on the oceans. |
28when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep, | 28I was there when he set the clouds above, when he established springs deep in the earth. |
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. | 29I was there when he set the limits of the seas, so they would not spread beyond their boundaries. And when he marked off the earth’s foundations, |
30Then I was constantly at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence, | 30I was the architect at his side. I was his constant delight, rejoicing always in his presence. |
31rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind. | 31And how happy I was with the world he created; how I rejoiced with the human family! |
32"Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. | 32“And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful. |
33Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it. | 33Listen to my instruction and be wise. Don’t ignore it. |
34Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. | 34Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home! |
35For those who find me find life and receive favor from the LORD. | 35For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD. |
36But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death." | 36But those who miss me injure themselves. 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. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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