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Proverbs 8
International Children’s Bible
Proverbs 8
International Children’s Bible
Listen to Wisdom
8 Like a person, wisdom calls out to you.
Understanding raises her voice.
2 On the hilltops along the road
and at the crossroads, she stands calling.
3 She stands beside the city gates.
At the entrances into the city, she calls out:
4 “People, I’m calling out to you.
I am shouting to all people.
5 You who do not know better, get the ability to think.
You who are foolish, get understanding.
6 Listen. I have important things to say.
What I tell you is right.
7 What I say is true.
I hate it when people speak evil.
8 Everything I say is honest.
Nothing I say is crooked or false.
9 People with good sense know that what I say is true.
People with knowledge know that my words are right.
10 Choose my teachings instead of silver.
Choose knowledge rather than the finest gold.
11 Wisdom is more precious than rubies.
Nothing you want is equal to it.
12 “I am wisdom, and I have the ability to think.
I also have knowledge and good sense.
13 If you respect the Lord, you also will hate evil.
It is wise to hate pride and bragging,
evil ways and lies.
14 I have good sense and advice.
I have understanding and power.
15 Kings use me to govern.
And rulers use me to make fair laws.
16 Princes use me to lead.
So do important men and all good judges.
17 I love those who love me.
Those who want me find me.
18 Riches and honor are mine.
So are wealth and lasting success.
19 What I give is better than the finest gold.
What I give is better than pure silver.
20 I do what is right.
I do what is fair.
21 I give wealth to those who love me.
I fill them with treasures.
22 “I, wisdom, was with God when he began his work.
This was before he made anything else long ago.
23 I was appointed in the very beginning,
even before the world began.
24 I began before there were oceans.
There were no springs overflowing with water.
25 I began before the hills were there.
The mountains had not even been put in place.
26 God still had not made the earth or fields.
He had not even made the first dust of the earth.
27 I was there when God put the skies in place,
when he stretched the horizon over the oceans.
28 I was there when he made the clouds above.
I was there when he put the fountains in the oceans.
29 I was there when he ordered the sea
not to go beyond the borders he had set for it.
I was there when he laid the earth’s foundation.
30 I was like a child by his side.
I was happy every day
and enjoyed being in his presence.
31 I enjoyed the whole world.
And I was happy with all its people.
32 “Now, my children, listen to me.
Those who follow my ways are happy.
33 Listen to my teaching, and you will be wise.
Do not ignore it.
34 Those who listen to me are happy.
They stand watching at my door every day.
They are at my open doorway, wanting to be with me.
35 Whoever finds me finds life.
And the Lord will be pleased with him.
36 Whoever does not find me hurts himself.
Those who hate me love death.”
Proverbs 8
New International Version
Proverbs 8
New International Version
Wisdom’s Call
8 Does not wisdom call out?(A)
Does not understanding raise her voice?
2 At the highest point along the way,
where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
3 beside the gate leading into the city,
at the entrance, she cries aloud:(B)
4 “To you, O people, I call out;(C)
I raise my voice to all mankind.
5 You who are simple,(D) gain prudence;(E)
you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.[a]
6 Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say;
I open my lips to speak what is right.
7 My mouth speaks what is true,(F)
for my lips detest wickedness.
8 All the words of my mouth are just;
none of them is crooked or perverse.
9 To the discerning all of them are right;
they are upright to those who have found knowledge.
10 Choose my instruction instead of silver,
knowledge rather than choice gold,(G)
11 for wisdom is more precious(H) than rubies,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.(I)
12 “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
I possess knowledge and discretion.(J)
13 To fear the Lord(K) is to hate evil;(L)
I hate(M) pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech.
14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
I have insight, I have power.(N)
15 By me kings reign
and rulers(O) issue decrees that are just;
16 by me princes govern,(P)
and nobles—all who rule on earth.[b]
17 I love those who love me,(Q)
and those who seek me find me.(R)
18 With me are riches and honor,(S)
enduring wealth and prosperity.(T)
19 My fruit is better than fine gold;(U)
what I yield surpasses choice silver.(V)
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,(W)
along the paths of justice,
21 bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me
and making their treasuries full.(X)
22 “The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works,[c][d]
before his deeds of old;
23 I was formed long ages ago,
at the very beginning, when the world came to be.
24 When there were no watery depths, I was given birth,
when there were no springs overflowing with water;(Y)
25 before the mountains were settled in place,(Z)
before the hills, I was given birth,(AA)
26 before he made the world or its fields
or any of the dust of the earth.(AB)
27 I was there when he set the heavens in place,(AC)
when he marked out the horizon(AD) on the face of the deep,
28 when he established the clouds above(AE)
and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,(AF)
29 when he gave the sea its boundary(AG)
so the waters would not overstep his command,(AH)
and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.(AI)
30 Then I was constantly[e] at his side.(AJ)
I was filled with delight day after day,
rejoicing always in his presence,
31 rejoicing in his whole world
and delighting in mankind.(AK)
32 “Now then, my children, listen(AL) to me;
blessed are(AM) those who keep my ways.(AN)
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise;
do not disregard it.
34 Blessed are those who listen(AO) to me,
watching daily at my doors,
waiting at my doorway.
35 For those who find me(AP) find life(AQ)
and receive favor from the Lord.(AR)
36 But those who fail to find me harm themselves;(AS)
all who hate me love death.”(AT)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 8:5 Septuagint; Hebrew foolish, instruct your minds
- Proverbs 8:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; other Hebrew manuscripts all righteous rulers
- Proverbs 8:22 Or way; or dominion
- Proverbs 8:22 Or The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work; or The Lord brought me forth at the beginning of his work
- Proverbs 8:30 Or was the artisan; or was a little child
International Children’s Bible (ICB) 
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
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.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.